American University in Cairo AUC Knowledge Fountain Theses and Dissertations 6-1-2012 Realizing the right to education in Egypt: an assessment of primary education in relation to international standards Fawziah Abdel Rahman Qadir Follow this and additional works at: https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds Recommended Citation APA Citation Qadir, F. (2012).Realizing the right to education in Egypt: an assessment of primary education in relation to international standards [Master’s thesis, the American University in Cairo]. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/975 MLA Citation Qadir, Fawziah Abdel Rahman. Realizing the right to education in Egypt: an assessment of primary education in relation to international standards. 2012. American University in Cairo, Master's thesis. AUC Knowledge Fountain. https://fount.aucegypt.edu/etds/975 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by AUC Knowledge Fountain. 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The American University in Cairo School of Global Affairs and Public Policy REALIZING THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION IN EGYPT: AN ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN RELATION TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS A Thesis Submitted to the Department of Law in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Human Rights Law By June 2012 The American University in Cairo School of Global Affairs and Public Policy REALIZING THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION IN EGYPT: AN ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN RELATION TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS A Thesis Submitted by to the Department of Law June 2012 in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Human Rights Law has been approved by Professor Hani Sayed _______________________________ Thesis Adviser American University in Cairo Date ____________________ Professor Russanne Hozayin_______________________________ Thesis First Reader American University in Cairo Date ____________________ Professor Thomas Skouteris _______________________________ Thesis Second Reader American University in Cairo Date ___________________ Professor Thomas Skouteris ___________________________________ Law Department Chair Date ____________________ Ambassador Nabil Fahmy _______________________________ Dean of GAPP Date ____________________ ii The American University in Cairo School of Global Affairs and Public Policy Department of Law REALIZING THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION IN EGYPT: AN ASSESMENT OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN RELATION TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS Supervised by Professor Hani Sayed ABSTRACT The right to education in international human rights law is contained in number of international treaties. The most comprehensive coverage of the right is found within the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) under articles 13 and 14. The primary level of education is an essential and integral phase in the development of a child, without the right to education children are unable to realize other rights. This research assesses the functionality of the Egyptian primary education system and its compliance with the international human rights standards of education, specifically the utilizing the 4-A schematic. The indicators included in the 4-A system are defined and analyzed in accordance to the primary level of education. A brief modern history of the Egyptian education system is provided in order to understand current trends. The issues facing the Ministry of Education – are centralization, aid for education and social and economic gaps – and their analysis provides greater insight into the compliance of the state. The final section of this research measures and analyzes the Egyptian system with the international standards in direct correlation to the human rights indicators that comprise the 4-A schematic. There are pockets of defacto discrimination, mostly social-economic that exists within the Egyptian primary education system and by international standards these facets of discrimination should take the highest priority for reform for the Ministry of Education. Other elements detracting from the provision of the right to education includes the quality of education in Egypt and equality. Stronger educational policies that are sharply focused, with targets for implementation being set; comprehensive legislation; and greater levels of awareness and civic engagement are needed in order to protect the right to education at the primary education level. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to extend my sincere gratitude, first and foremost, to my advisor, Dr. Hani Sayed. His guidance and direction made this research possible. I am indebted to Dr. Russanne Hozayin for her guidance and work in the field of education in Egypt and to Diana Van Bogaert for always listening to my ideas and giving me great feedback. To the children of Egypt, I write this thesis with the hope that it will contribute to a better and brighter future that substantiates your strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. To my mother and father, my first teachers who always taught me to question the world and the way things are, never settling for the things that I have the power to change. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the memory of my late grandfather, Abdel Rezzak Mohamed Abdou, who in his youth lost his opportunity to higher education in the early days of the Egyptian struggle for independence. He never stopped stressing the importance of education as the key to true success. We have come full circle. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction …………………………………......................................................... 1 II. The Right to Education Legal Framework …………………………………......... 2 A. ICESCR – Framing the Right ………………………………………………... 3 1. Article 13 The Right to Education ………………………………….. 5 2. Article 14….……………………….……………………………........ 6 B. Primary Education in the International Human Rights Legal Context ............ 7 1. What is Education ................………………………………………… 8 2. What it Means to Have Free and Compulsory Education …………... 10 3. Who Has the Right ………………………………………………….. 12 C. International Standards for Education – The 4-A Schematic .………………. 13 1. Availability ………………………………………………………….. 14 2. Accessibility ………………………………………………………… 15 3. Acceptability…………………………………………………………. 16 4. Adaptability………………………………………………………….. 16 D. Duties of the State in Providing Free and Compulsory Primary Education … 17 1. Positive and Negative Duties of the State…………………………… 17 2. Non-Discrimination …………………………………………………. 19 3. Progressive Realization ……………………………………………... 22 E. Monitoring the Right – Defining Human Rights Indicators ………………… 23 1. Table 1 4-A Indicators for the Right to Education ………………….. 26 2. Table 2 Right to Education Indicators: Availability ………………… 28 3. Table 3 Right to Education Indicators: Accessibility ……………….. 29 4. Table 4 Right to Education Indicators: Acceptability ………………. 30 5. Table 5 Tight to Education Indicators: Adaptability ………………... 32 III. Primary Education in Egypt ……………………………………………………… 34 A. Evolution of Primary Education in Egypt – Modern Historical Overview …. 36 1. Revolution Road …………………………………………………….. 36 2. Nasser’s Egypt ………………………………………………………. 38 3. Sadat and the Infitah ………………………………………………… 43 4. Mubarak and the National Security …………………………………. 46 B. The Current Egyptian Education System …………………………………… 48 C. Issues Facing the Ministry of Education…………………………………….. 50 1. Centralization ………………………………………………………... 53 2. Aid Dependency …………………………………………………….. 56 3. Education Policies …………………………………………………... 60 IV. Measuring Egyptian Compliance ……………………………………………….. 63 A. The Egyptian System and the 4-A Indicators ……………………………….. 63 1. Availability – Fundamentals of Education ……………………………… 63 2. Accessibility – Obstacles of Education …………………………………. 69 3. Acceptability – Relevance and Substance of Education ………………... 77 4. Adaptability – Molding to the Needs of the Child ……………………… 85 B. Analysis of MOE Compliance – Equality and Quality ……...……………… 88 V. Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………. 89 Summary of Findings …………………………………………………………… 93 v I. INTRODUCTION The importance of an education is paramount in Egypt, an integral and fundamental element of society, so much so that a basic education has been a right for every citizen since the constitution of 19231 before any international treaties documented it as a human right. Former Minister of Education Taha Husayn described education as being as integral to life, “like ‘water and air, the right of every citizen.’”2 Education in Egypt, as with other states, seeks to create a system that empowers its citizens and meets the needs of the country in doing so. However, there are a multitude of factors that can and do enhance or detract from the ability of a state to adequately and effectively educate its population. With a rapidly increasing population, it is becoming ever more important and vital for the government of Egypt to deal with the expanding costs of providing an adequate and relevant education for its citizens. Education is a tool that when adequately implemented can equip the bearer with the ability to advance their life in a number of ways. The importance of education has direct and profound implications for the development and success of an individual, communities and, on a wider-scale, the state. The way in which a state structures its education system is an indicator that helps