Cairo: Egypt's Education Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif has underscored the importance of adhering to the academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year, which commences on September 12 for public schools and September 6 for international schools. This was conveyed during a comprehensive meeting attended by approximately 4,500 school principals, education directorate, and administration officials from 21 governorates, aimed at reviewing the preparations for the upcoming academic year.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the meeting's focus was on evaluating school readiness and addressing potential challenges that might hinder the smooth commencement of classes. Abdel Latif announced an increase in the number of actual school days to 183, up from 116 in previous years, aligning the school calendar closer to international norms.

Abdel Latif addressed the issue of classroom density, stating that it is unacceptable for class sizes to exceed 50 students. He noted that schools across the nation have complied with these limits. The minister also discussed advances in enhancing students' literacy skills, citing recent United Nations reports that show a decline in students with weak literacy skills from 45% in the first assessment round to 13% in the third.

In terms of the Egyptian Baccalaureate system, Abdel Latif revealed that ministerial decisions will be announced soon. He indicated that the curricula for the second year have been completed and approved by the International Baccalaureate Organization, and will soon be available on the Education Ministry's website.

Financial literacy will be introduced as an activity for second-year baccalaureate students, covering concepts such as stock exchanges, shares, and startups. This initiative aims to enhance students' financial awareness and knowledge relevant to their future careers. Additionally, programming and artificial intelligence will be taught to develop students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills, aligning with modern industry demands.

Regarding religious education, Abdel Latif instructed schools to schedule these classes within the first four periods of the day to emphasize the role of religious, ethical, and human values in shaping student character. He also highlighted the significance of maintaining green spaces in schools to foster a healthy and stimulating learning environment.