84 CultureShock! Egypt
qualify (this does not include private or foreign education).
However, all children are not selected for advancement to
university candidacy. Although education is free, qualifying
students may be forced to forego a university education
because their families cannot afford to support them during
this extended educational period. While the education is free
from the government, the cost of living without an income
is not supported by the government.
Structurally, the Egyptian educational system is somewhat
similar to the British one. Primary school extends from
approximately ages six through 12 years. Upon completion,
students may enter a preparatory school, which lasts
an additional three years. At the end of preparatory
school, students sit an exam to determine whether they
may continue to secondary school. Depending upon
the student’s satisfactory completion of the preparatory
school examination, they will be directed into either a
general secondary or specialised secondary school. General
secondary schools prepare students for a university education
in the sciences or humanities. Specialised secondary schools
prepare students for trade or technical professions. As in the
United Kingdom, secondary schools are called ‘college’.
To acquire a Secondary School Certificate, students must
pass a major qualifying examination which lasts about three
weeks. A national secondary qualifying examination is given
annually to all students seeking certification in this area.
Depending on the student’s ranking nationally (and a passing
grade), certain students may then proceed to university
level training. A student’s ranking determines not only if he
or she will be allowed to go to university, but also in which
programmes he or she may enrol. Highest priority is placed
on advancement to medical physician training. Only the
highest percentage ranking students throughout the country
are eligible for medical training. Another percentage group of
students is eligible for the next category of training, and so
on. A student who is eligible to go to medical school is not
required to take this track and may, in fact, choose another.
However, a person with a lower academic ranking would not
be allowed to ‘move up’ and study medicine.