Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has warned that students’ inability to speak Arabic proficiently poses a serious challenge to Egypt’s national identity and national security, calling for greater attention to Arabic-language education in international schools.
Speaking during the Egypt 2026 Forum on Monday, Madbouly questioned whether students enrolled in international schools had sufficient command of Arabic, describing it as the national language and the language of Egyptian society. He argued that the issue extends beyond education policy to the preservation of Egypt’s cultural identity and national security.
Madbouly’s remarks came during a session titled “What Are Our Children Learning, and Does It Prepare Them for the Future?” The discussion addressed concerns raised by parents about the teaching of Arabic and religious education in international schools, as well as whether grades in these subjects should count toward students’ overall academic results.
The prime minister said the government had received complaints about the requirements, while emphasizing that maintaining students’ connection to their language and national culture remained a priority.
“The question that must be asked is how proficient graduates of these schools are in the Arabic language and how connected they are to their country’s identity,” Madbouly said. He described the issue as a significant risk to national security.
The remarks reflect the government’s position that Arabic-language instruction should remain an essential component of education, including in schools that follow international curricula.
The debate over Arabic instruction in international schools has also raised questions about the role of religious education and national history in shaping students’ understanding of Egyptian society.
This week, Egypt’s education minister declared that the debate is over regarding whether international schools must teach Arabic, history, and religion, and whether to count the grades toward students’ final scores.
“There is no student who will not study history, Arabic, and religion in any Egyptian school,” Minister of Education and Technical Education, Mohamed Abdel Latif, said at the Egypt Forum 2026. “This issue is finished.”
The prime minister’s comments place language proficiency at the center of a wider discussion about the responsibilities of schools, the role of the state in education and the preservation of national identity.
Egypt has approximately 600 international schools, according to education specialist Rafaat Fayad, who cited the figure in September 2026.
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