Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly addressed education development goals during a session titled What Are Our Children Learning, and Does It Prepare Them for the Future? on the opening day of Egypt Forum 2026.
Held under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and using the slogan A Look at Today, a Vision for Tomorrow, the session drew participation from ministers, university presidents, education experts, parliamentarians, and families.
Madbouly noted that education remains a primary state focus, highlighting the expansion of universities from around 50 in 2014 to roughly 131 today for a population of 110 million. Addressing inquiries regarding the balance between construction and social sectors, he stated that infrastructure growth must accompany quality enhancements in learning.
Longstanding obstacles were acknowledged, such as crowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and the necessity of professional training to handle updated study materials. He added that overcoming decades of accumulated hurdles demands ongoing effort.
Focusing on Quality and Curricula
The upcoming phase will target educational enhancement and graduate readiness for a rapidly shifting global landscape. Madbouly stated that the new Baccalaureate framework seeks to offer public-school pupils options comparable to private and international institutions, including the option to retake tests for better scores.
He pointed to the psychological pressure tied to traditional General Secondary Certificate testing, which has included severe student mental health crises following poor grades. Furthermore, he recommended updating study programmes every three to four years to align with scientific progress and job market demands.
Identity and International Students
The prime minister addressed debates surrounding Arabic and religious studies in international schools and their weight in overall scoring. He framed the issue around safeguarding national identity and security, emphasizing the need to keep youth connected to their language and culture while balancing global schooling models.
Regarding the enrollment of foreign students in domestic universities, particularly medical faculties, Madbouly indicated that international admissions boost institutional rankings and global presence. He stressed the importance of balancing international competitiveness with local access for Egyptian students.
Concluding his address, Madbouly characterized education as a pillar of Egypt's soft power, noting that international graduates often assume prominent government roles in their home countries, reinforcing diplomatic bonds.
