Egypt Archives - IMPACT-se https://impact-se.org/region/egypt/ Worldwide News | Negative Influences | Tolerance Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:54:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 https://impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/cropped-logo-IMPACT_SE-1-32x32.png Egypt Archives - IMPACT-se https://impact-se.org/region/egypt/ 32 32 When Education Diverges from Law: LGBTQ Narratives in Jordanian and Egyptian Textbooks https://impact-se.org/publication/when-education-diverges-from-law-lgbtq-narratives-in-jordanian-and-egyptian-textbooks/ Tue, 20 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/when-education-diverges-from-law-lgbtq-narratives-in-jordanian-and-egyptian-textbooks/ This report examines how Jordanian and Egyptian school textbooks address homosexuality and gender non-conformity. Through analysis of religious and language curricula, it shows how textbook narratives often reflect prevailing social and religious norms rather than state law, highlighting the role of education in transmitting societal attitudes. Please find the paper here.

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]]> This report examines how Jordanian and Egyptian school textbooks address homosexuality and gender non-conformity. Through analysis of religious and language curricula, it shows how textbook narratives often reflect prevailing social and religious norms rather than state law, highlighting the role of education in transmitting societal attitudes.

Please find the paper here.

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]]> Review of Changes and Remaining Problematic Content Egyptian Textbooks Selected Examples 2023-24 https://impact-se.org/publication/review-of-changes-and-remaining-problematic-content-egyptian-textbooks-selected-examples-2023-24/ Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/review-of-changes-and-remaining-problematic-content-egyptian-textbooks-selected-examples-2023-24/ This IMPACT-se report examines the significant strides in reforming Egypt’s school textbooks for the 2023–24 academic year, with 80% of students now studying revised materials that better promote standards of peace and tolerance. Notable improvements include greater recognition of historic Jewish presence in Egypt and an emphasis on respect for diversity, religious coexistence, and a […]

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]]> This IMPACT-se report examines the significant strides in reforming Egypt’s school textbooks for the 2023–24 academic year, with 80% of students now studying revised materials that better promote standards of peace and tolerance. Notable improvements include greater recognition of historic Jewish presence in Egypt and an emphasis on respect for diversity, religious coexistence, and a moderate vision of Islam in younger grades.The curriculum highlights positive narratives about Jews and Judaism, portrays Israel as a legitimate peace partner in the context of the Egypt-Israel peace accords, and promotes values of tolerance, sustainable development, and inclusion. However, unrevised textbooks in higher grades still contain problematic content, including antisemitic stereotypes and hostility towards Israel, signaling the need for continued reform.These ongoing reforms demonstrate Egypt’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive educational environment while addressing remaining challenges to ensure a curriculum that fully aligns with international standards.

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]]> Egypt’s Ongoing Reforms: A Catalyst for Change, But More to Achieve https://impact-se.org/publication/egypts-ongoing-reforms-a-catalyst-for-change-but-more-to-achieve/ Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/egypts-ongoing-reforms-a-catalyst-for-change-but-more-to-achieve/ Egypt’s political landscape remains complex, shaped by a combination of domestic priorities and international influences. Under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the government has emphasized investment in education. However, political constraints and limited democratic space often challenge the implementation of reforms. The government faces significant challenges in modernizing its education system while addressing entrenched issues. The […]

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]]> Egypt’s political landscape remains complex, shaped by a combination of domestic priorities and international influences. Under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the government has emphasized investment in education. However, political constraints and limited democratic space often challenge the implementation of reforms. The government faces significant challenges in modernizing its education system while addressing entrenched issues.

The Egyptian education system serves millions of students but struggles with outdated curricula. The curriculum often reflects traditional narratives and has been criticized for lacking inclusivity, global perspectives, and engagement with contemporary issues. Additionally, disparities in access to quality education persist, with rural and underprivileged communities disproportionately affected.

Educational reform:

Egypt’s reform efforts aim to modernize education through structural adjustments, curriculum updates, and digital integration to better prepare students for global challenges. The Ministry of Education has introduced initiatives like the Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB), a digital library launched in 2016, providing free access to textbooks and interactive learning materials.

However, reform of curriculum content has progressed well, albeit at a slightly slower rate. There has been a significant amount of successful reform for younger grades, where the government aims to foster critical thinking and innovation with topics like entrepreneurship, civic education, and environmental awareness, though conservative perspectives on LGBTQ issues persist

Content for older students still struggles with biases, including antisemitic stereotypes and anti-Israel rhetoric. Progress remains uneven, and deeper curriculum reforms are needed to address these entrenched issues effectively.

Opportunities for the future:

In light of the near-annual reforms in Egypt, there remains an opportunity for curricula to continue to be shaped in accordance with international values of peace and tolerance. A trajectory which implements ongoing textbook reform to address biases is essential towards creating an inclusive and forward-looking education system. Ultimately, this would help Egypt prepare its students to thrive in a globalized and interconnected world.

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]]> Israel and Jews in Egyptian Textbooks – A Forward-Looking Perspective https://impact-se.org/publication/israel-and-jews-in-egyptian-textbooks-a-forward-looking-perspective/ Tue, 23 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/israel-and-jews-in-egyptian-textbooks-a-forward-looking-perspective/ This report is co-authored by Dr Eldad Pardo, IMPACT-se Director of Research and Dr. Ofir Winter, Senior Researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies. The report provides a comprehensive study on school curricula in Egypt in light of recent regional developments, including the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October. In the knowledge that […]

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]]> This report is co-authored by Dr Eldad Pardo, IMPACT-se Director of Research and Dr. Ofir Winter, Senior Researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies. The report provides a comprehensive study on school curricula in Egypt in light of recent regional developments, including the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October. In the knowledge that textbooks can serve as a useful and instructive tool for researchers seeking to understand the vision of a country’s leadership in the medium and long term, this report uses the lens of Egyptian education as an indicator of future trends, in particular towards Israel-Egypt relations.

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]]> Between Conservatism and Reforms: The Dual Nature of Al-Azhar’s School Curriculum https://impact-se.org/publication/between-conservatism-and-reforms-the-dual-nature-of-al-azhars-school-curriculum/ Tue, 16 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/between-conservatism-and-reforms-the-dual-nature-of-al-azhars-school-curriculum/ This report offers a first-of-its kind insight into the curriculum taught at the influential Al-Azhar religious seminary in Egypt. The institute operates a separate K-12 school system that publishes its own textbooks and teaches them alongside those of the Egyptian national curriculum, which IMPACT-se researched in April. The study evaluated 63 textbooks across grades 7–12, […]

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]]> This report offers a first-of-its kind insight into the curriculum taught at the influential Al-Azhar religious seminary in Egypt. The institute operates a separate K-12 school system that publishes its own textbooks and teaches them alongside those of the Egyptian national curriculum, which IMPACT-se researched in April. The study evaluated 63 textbooks across grades 7–12, spanning many genres of classical Islamic literature: Qur’an commentary, hadith, jurisprudence, Islamic history and culture, grammar, and rhetoric. Our findings reveal a strong emphasis on combating radical Islam, while still promoting adherence to traditional Islamic beliefs and texts. The report promotes a moderate form of Islam which rejects extremism, and demonizes Islamist terror groups. The attitude toward Jews is largely ambivalent, whereas Christians are portrayed in a positive light. Lessons on gender equality reveal conservative views. When addressed, international issues reflect an anti-Western perspective. Israel and Zionism are approached from a hostile standpoint. The report focuses on seven thematic categories: combating radical Islam; fighting disbelief; gender issues; treatment of Jews and Christians; Zionism and Israel; Islamic sects; and international relations.

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]]> Generational Change: Egypt’s Quest to Reform its School Curriculum https://impact-se.org/publication/generational-change-egypts-quest-to-reform-its-school-curriculum/ Tue, 02 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/generational-change-egypts-quest-to-reform-its-school-curriculum/ IMPACT-se has released its most comprehensive report to date on the Egyptian national school curriculum, which evaluated 271 textbooks published between 2018 and 2023. The study focuses on Arabic language, Islamic and Christian religious education, social studies, Values and Respect for the Other, history, geography, philosophy, and more. The research comes amid an ongoing year-by-year […]

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]]> IMPACT-se has released its most comprehensive report to date on the Egyptian national school curriculum, which evaluated 271 textbooks published between 2018 and 2023. The study focuses on Arabic language, Islamic and Christian religious education, social studies, Values and Respect for the Other, history, geography, philosophy, and more. The research comes amid an ongoing year-by-year reform of the Egyptian national curriculum between 2018 and 2030 across all grades (as yet up to grade 5), and found that the reformed curriculum shows highly positive change thus far. The report explores attitudes toward peace and tolerance, the Jewish and Christian Other, and both contemporary and past foreign policy. It evaluates the perception of domestic issues like population density; the revolutions of January 2011 and June 2013; the depiction of Israel; and the role of gender in Egyptian society. The report focuses on seven thematic categories: “Curricular Reform,” “General Perceptions of War and Peace,” “Society and Politics following a Decade of Upheaval,” “Treatment of the ‘Other’,” “Domestic Challenges,” “Status of Women,” and “Regional and International Outlook.”

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]]> Egyptian Parliament Reopens Debate on Quran’s Place in the Curriculum https://impact-se.org/publication/egyptian-parliament-reopens-debate-on-qurans-place-in-the-curriculum/ Wed, 15 Dec 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/egyptian-parliament-reopens-debate-on-qurans-place-in-the-curriculum/ When the Egyptian Parliament recently considered a bill intended to support the use of Standard Arabic, the discussion grew heated between a a representative of Al-Azhar and a parliamentarian who objected to provisions about Quran memorization in primary school. Modern Standard Arabic is the formal dialect of the wider Arabic language, which there are now […]

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]]> When the Egyptian Parliament recently considered a bill intended to support the use of Standard Arabic, the discussion grew heated between a a representative of Al-Azhar and a parliamentarian who objected to provisions about Quran memorization in primary school. Modern Standard Arabic is the formal dialect of the wider Arabic language, which there are now many dialects across the Arab world. On Nov. 30, the Egyptian Parliament discussed a bill containing measures to support of the arguably archaic literary dialect that included a language exam for applicants for government jobs, obligating shops to post their names in Standard Arabic and forcing advertisements and television programs to broadcast their content in Standard Arabic. The bill includes penalties of up to a year in imprison and fines of up to 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($3,175). In the session, a representative of Al-Azhar suggested students be required to memorize more Quranic verses, but parliamentarian Youssef Al-Husseini objected to provisions in the bill that retain Quran memorization in primary school. “There are non-Muslim students like Copts who should not be forced to memorize the Quran,” argued Husseini, who is deputy chairman of parliament’s media and culture committee. Complete Article HERE

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]]> Egypt Enhances It’s Peace Education, One Step at a Time https://impact-se.org/publication/egypt-enhances-its-peace-education-one-step-at-a-time/ Tue, 27 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/egypt-enhances-its-peace-education-one-step-at-a-time/ Ofir Winter’s IMPACT-commissioned response to the February 17, 2016 Times of Israel article titled “In a First, New Egyptian Schoolbook Teaches Peace Deal with Israel.”

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]]> Ofir Winter’s IMPACT-commissioned response to the February 17, 2016 Times of Israel article titled “In a First, New Egyptian Schoolbook Teaches Peace Deal with Israel.”

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]]> Inculcating Islamist Ideals in Egypt https://impact-se.org/publication/inculcating-islamist-ideals-in-egypt/ Tue, 20 Sep 2016 00:00:00 +0000 https://impact-se.org/publication/inculcating-islamist-ideals-in-egypt/ Dr. Yohanan Manor revisits the Egyptian curriculum of the Mubarak era and convincingly demonstrates how years of Islamist mass education (featuring jihad and anti-Christian teachings) thwarted a smooth transformation to democracy in Egypt.

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]]> Dr. Yohanan Manor revisits the Egyptian curriculum of the Mubarak era and convincingly demonstrates how years of Islamist mass education (featuring jihad and anti-Christian teachings) thwarted a smooth transformation to democracy in Egypt.

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