Student density at public schools increased to 50 per class

CAIRO – 13 September 2018: The Ministry of Education, headed by Dr. Tarek Shawky, decided on Wednesday to raise the number of children in official language schools to 50 students in one class.

A ministerial decree in 2014 determined the number of children in one class as to not exceed 36 children in official language schools and 29 children in distinguished official language schools.

Most government owned schools suffer from high student density, where a class can sometimes be jammed with up to 70 students, regardless of the maximum number allowed.

Meanwhile, privately-owned schools, which accommodate much fewer students in a class, have increased their fees to an extent that may force more parents to enroll their children in public schools.