International schools in Egypt must teach Arabic, history, and religion, with grades counting toward final scores.
Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education, Mohamed Abdel Latif, declared the debate closed on mandatory Arabic, history, and religion classes in international schools. Speaking at the Egypt Forum 2026, Abdel Latif stated that all students in any Egyptian school will study these subjects, and their grades will be included in final scores. He emphasized that treating these subjects as pass-or-fail would diminish their importance.
The minister’s remarks followed a discussion with businessman Ahmad Tarek Khalil, who advocated for prioritizing the Arabic language in international schools. Abdel Latif agreed, confirming the ministry's support for international schools in teaching Arabic. Currently, Arabic and history each contribute 10 percent to the total score for the international certificate, making up 20 percent combined.
The Egypt Forum 2026, held from October 19 to 24, aims to foster dialogue between the government and citizens. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly highlighted that the forum is dedicated to the citizen, who has borne the brunt of economic and structural reforms. The event includes ministers, officials, civil society, experts, and citizens, focusing on constructive dialogue about Egypt's present and future.
Why it mattersInternational schools and their students are directly affected by the mandatory inclusion of Arabic, history, and religion in their curriculum and grading.
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