Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
As summer draws to a close, students and parents across Egypt are turning their attention to the new academic year. Both the Ministry of Education and the Supreme Council of Universities have confirmed that the 2025–2026 academic year for public schools, universities, and international institutions will officially begin on Saturday, September 20, 2025, bringing with it a reformed educational landscape, extended learning timelines, and upgraded national curricula.
University Calendar for 2025–2026
The Supreme Council of Universities, chaired by Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ayman Ashour, has approved the full academic timeline for Egyptian universities:
- Start of academic year: Saturday, 20 September 2025
- Midterm exams (1st semester): During the first three weeks of November, per each faculty’s schedule
- End of first semester classes: Thursday, 1 January 2026
- Final exams (1st semester): Saturday, 3 January – Thursday, 22 January 2026
- Mid-year break: Saturday, 24 January – Thursday, 5 February 2026
- Second semester begins: Saturday, 7 February 2026
- Midterm exams (2nd semester): During the first three weeks of April
- End of second semester: Thursday, 21 May 2026
- Final exams (2nd semester): Throughout May and June, depending on each college’s schedule
The academic year includes two full semesters of 15 weeks each, excluding exams and breaks.
Public School Academic Year: 36 Weeks of Instruction
Egypt’s Ministry of Education and Technical Education has also confirmed that schools will begin the new year on the same day as universities, Saturday, 20 September 2025, marking the beginning of a 36-week academic year.
Key Dates for Schools:
- Term 1 begins: 20 September 2025
- Midterm exams (Grades 1–8): 10 January 2026
- Prep certificate (Grade 9) midterm exams: 17 January 2026
- End of first term exams: 22 January 2026
- Mid-year break: 24 January – 5 February 2026
- Term 2 begins: 7 February 2026
- Final exams for Grades 1–8: 16 May 2026
- Prep certificate final exams: 4 June 2026
- Technical diploma exams: 31 May 2026
- Thanaweya Amma (General Secondary) exams: 20 June 2026
- School year ends: 11 June 2026
The total number of actual instructional days is 172, divided into 88 days in the first term and 84 in the second, after accounting for weekends and public holidays.
Key Reforms and New Curricula
Minister of Education Mohamed Abdel Latif announced that the upcoming academic year will see the launch of completely revised national curricula across several core subjects. These new curricula developed in collaboration with both international and local educational organizations and national publishing houses will be owned exclusively by the Egyptian Ministry of Education.
The focus of these reforms includes:
- Redesigned textbooks for Arabic, social studies, and religious education to emphasize personal values, critical thinking, and national identity
- Remedial summer programs for students in early grades who are struggling with literacy skills
- National health initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Health to address common student health issues such as anemia, poor vision, and stunted growth
Expansion of Technical Education and International Collaboration
The Ministry also announced the expansion of Applied Technology Schools, now totaling 90 institutions, with plans to transform 1,270 existing technical schools into internationally accredited programs.
This reform is part of a broader strategy to align vocational education with global standards and labor market needs. It involves partnerships with international stakeholders from Japan, Italy, and prominent private-sector leaders.
International Schools to Open Earlier
For international schools, the academic year will begin earlier, on Saturday, 7 September 2025, as per the Minister’s directive. This timeline was coordinated following a meeting with the Board of the Association of International Schools in Egypt, ensuring readiness for curriculum delivery and academic supervision.
As Egypt embarks on a new academic year, it does so with an ambitious agenda: to raise educational standards, modernize learning, and better equip students for both national and global futures. With overhauls in curriculum, increased investment in vocational training, and renewed focus on student well-being, the 2025–2026 school year is being positioned as a foundational step in Egypt’s long-term educational transformation.
