MP Freddy Elbaiady, of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, has accused the Ministry of Education of strong-arming students into Egypt’s newly launched baccalaureate system—an ostensibly optional track he says is being imposed through legal sleight of hand and soft coercion.
Elbaiady’s question, addressed to Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Education Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif, follows a national meeting the minister held on Aug. 31 with some 4,000 secondary school administrators.
During the meeting, the minister simply emphasized the benefits of the new baccalaureate track, reflected in a statement posted to the ministry's Facebook account. According to Elbaiady, Abdel Latif did more than promote the program, rather, he signaled his intent to personally monitor daily enrollment numbers.
“This is not persuasion,” Elbaiady argued in his submission to Speaker Hanafy Gebaly. “This is coercion masquerading as awareness-raising.”
Legal Guarantees vs. Ministry Messaging
At the heart of the controversy lies Article 37bis of the Education Law, which guarantees that enrollment in the baccalaureate track remains optional. In its official statement following the August meeting, the Ministry of Education said Abdel Latif had merely encouraged school administrators to inform parents of the advantages of the new system and provide academic counseling.
The ministry characterized the baccalaureate as a student-friendly model with fewer subjects, multiple assessment opportunities, and less pressure than the high-stakes traditional Thanaweya Amma exam.
But critics argue that the ministry’s actions betray the spirit, if not the letter, of that provision.
Party Backlash and Mounting Criticism
The Egyptian Social Democratic Party issued a statement on Monday, warning that what is being promoted as a choice amounts to de facto compulsion. “We’re seeing students who prefer the old system pushed out—transferred to distant schools or less-equipped facilities,” the statement said. “This is blatant legal manipulation—an optional system becoming compulsory through pressure and policy.”
Elbaiady went further, suggesting the ministry’s real aim was optics. “Is the minister trying to manufacture success by inflating enrollment numbers? If the system is truly worthwhile, why not let it compete on merit rather than manipulation?”
In his parliamentary query, Elbaiady emphasized his party’s support for educational reform, but rejected what he called “experimental coercion.”
“We demand reform,” he said. “But reform based on study, preparation, and persuasion—not pressure. What we are witnessing now is a forced experiment on our children. They are not guinea pigs for an untested idea presented as a miracle solution.”
A Rushed Reform?
Elbaiady comments reflect broader public unease since President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi ratified amendments to the Education Law on Aug. 18, officially launching the baccalaureate certificate as an alternative secondary school pathway.
The revised law also introduced re-sit opportunities and specialized study tracks in fields such as medical science, engineering, computing, business, and the arts.
While the government touts the system as more modern and flexible, rights advocates have raised alarms over its implications for equity.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights criticized the legislation for passing without public consultation or a serious assessment of its social impact. In a statement, the group noted that the law introduces new registration and re-exam fees, which could make the program inaccessible for low-income families.
The amendments risk widening “the inequality gap between students who can afford to participate and those who cannot,” the group warned, noting that this is especially concerning “given the high rates of poverty among Egyptians.” They cautioned that the system could undermine equal opportunity and fair competition in education.
EIPR also noted that many families already shoulder significant costs, including transportation, textbooks, and private tutoring. Adding another layer of financial burden, they said, would only further stratify access.
