During the late 19th century, Egypt had a limited number of state-sponsored secondary and higher schools. The educational system primarily relied on maktabs and madrasahs for primary and higher education respectively. However, in 1923, a law was passed to provide free compulsory education for children aged 7 to 12, although its full enforcement did not occur until the early 1950s. Following World War II and the revolution of 1952, there was a significant increase in funding for education, leading to progress in various areas.

One notable development was the expansion of women’s education, resulting in a significant rise in the number of women attending university. This shift allowed women to pursue careers outside of the home, including in professions and politics. Additionally, the expansion of education led to the emergence of an intellectual elite and the growth of a middle class composed of professionals, government officials, and businessmen. As a result of improved education services, literacy rates gradually increased, with approximately two-thirds of men being literate and women’s literacy rates steadily improving, although still lower than men’s.

The state general education system in Egypt consists of three stages: primary (six years), preparatory (three years), and secondary (three years). Primary and preparatory education is compulsory for children aged 6 to 15. Successful students have the opportunity to continue their education at the secondary level. Secondary education is divided into two types: general and technical. General high schools offer scientific, mathematical, and liberal arts curricula, while technical schools specialize in commercial, agricultural, or industrial subjects.

In addition to the Ministry of Education’s general education system, there are institutes associated with al-Azhar University, which is centered around al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo’s old quarter. Al-Azhar has been a prominent Islamic teaching center for over a millennium. The curriculum in these institutes aligns with that of state schools, but with a greater emphasis on traditional Islamic subjects. The duration of training is extended by one year at the preparatory stage and two years at the secondary stage. Since 1961, significant efforts have been made to modernize the college-level curriculum to match that of other state universities.

In the 1950s, Egypt had nearly 300 foreign schools, predominantly French. Over time, many of these schools have become more Egyptianized. Students attending these schools are required to take the same state certificate examinations as those in the regular state system.

The oldest state universities in Egypt include Cairo (1908), Alexandria (1942), ʿAyn Shams (1950), and Asyūṭ (1957). More universities have been added to the state system since the 1970s. Additionally, there are several private universities, with the American University in Cairo being the oldest (1919).

Egypt also boasts numerous institutes of higher learning, such as the Academy of Arts, which includes institutes specializing in ballet, cinema, theatre, Arab music, Western music, folklore, art criticism, and child care. Other institutes focus on commerce, industry, agriculture, the arts, physical culture, social service, public health, domestic economy, and languages. These institutes offer degree programs in various fields of study.