Egypt's Senate refuses draft law to end Thanaweyya Amma exams in new education system

New system will not evaluate students based on school leaving exams

Egypt's Senate refused, on Monday, a draft law to amend the Education Law submitted by the government. The new system is being developed that will not evaluate students based on Thanaweyya Amma (school leaving) exams.
During the plenary session of the Egyptian Senate, Minister of Education and Technical Education Tarek Shawky said that his ministry aims to implement the new education system by 2030.
During the session, the Senate discussed a report issued by its education and scientific research committee on the amendments to the Education Law. This reviewed the cumulative high school system, which the committee had earlier rejected.
Shawky said that the efforts made by his ministry to develop the education and the Thanaweyya Amma systems had achieved remarkable progress.
The minister asserted that Senate members must support the new system, and should not be led by parental concerns.
He added that his ministry is carrying out an enlightening process under the direction of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, in order to upgrade Egypt's education system.
Shawky said that the system had already begun to train students starting from kindergarten, and aims to target eight million children.
He indicated that high school education in Egypt needs to be changed, as some people deal with it as an industry, through private tuition.
The minister pointed out that Egypt is aiming to develop the education system, whilst eliminating private tuition, and ensuring a return to free education.
Meanwhile, Shawky said that cheating in exams costs Egypt a total of EGP 1.3bn in insurance expenses every year, asserting that about 85% of students cheat.