Deputy Ayman Mahsub calls for reconsidering the ban on transferring students to Grade 12 in the international system

Cairo — Nadeh Imam: Dr. Ayman Mahsoub, a member of the House of Representatives, has submitted an informational request addressed to Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Technical Education, concerning the repercussions of the Ministry of Education’s decision to prohibit students from transferring to Grade 12 under the American Diploma and IG (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) systems. He emphasized that the decision has sparked widespread anxiety within the educational community, causing direct harm to thousands of students and their families, while also violating the principle of legal certainty and the rule of law that should govern administrative decisions.

Mahsoub clarified that the right to choose an appropriate educational pathway is a right guaranteed by the Constitution, and that the stability of educational policies constitutes one of the key pillars in building trust between the state and citizens. He noted that the decision was issued after the transfer season had officially begun, and after thousands of families had already started completing transfer procedures, paid fees, secured study places and educational courses, and prepared the necessary documents. This has resulted in severe financial, psychological, and educational burdens that could have been avoided had the decision been announced within a reasonable timeframe.

The parliamentarian pointed out that the crisis is further complicated by previous rulings issued by the State Council, as well as the certificate equivalence rules enforced by the Supreme Council of Universities, which have allowed, in certain cases, for obtaining the American Diploma through study in Grade 12. This raises questions regarding the legal and regulatory basis upon which the Ministry relied in issuing the decision, and whether it aligns with the principles of legality, protection of acquired rights, and stability of legal positions.

He stressed that the repercussions of the decision may extend to the international education system in Egypt, a sector in which the state is pursuing a strategy of expansion and attracting educational investments. He argued that narrowing opportunities to access international qualifications without a thorough study of the resulting consequences could lead to adverse outcomes, including some families choosing to complete their children’s education abroad, representing a loss of educational and economic value for the state.

He added that students pursuing the American Diploma and IG qualifications constitute an important segment of the educational system, taking accredited exams within Egypt, with their results documented by the Ministry of Education, thereby generating financial returns for the state. Furthermore, a significant proportion of these students enroll in private and independent universities, helping to alleviate pressure on public universities. Consequently, any decisions affecting this system require careful study and broad societal dialogue before implementation.

He emphasized that issuing decisive decisions that suddenly impact students’ futures without providing an appropriate transitional period contradicts the principles of good governance and transparency, and raises questions about the decision-making mechanisms within the Ministry, including whether a legal, social, or economic assessment of the decision’s repercussions was conducted prior to its approval.

Mahsoub called on the government to clarify the legal and constitutional basis upon which the Ministry relied in issuing the decision, the reasons for its issuance after transfer procedures had commenced and parents had fulfilled their financial obligations, and to disclose whether the Ministry conducted studies to evaluate the decision’s various impacts. He also requested clarification on the decision’s compatibility with previous judicial rulings and certificate equivalence rules, its impact on the international school system and educational investments, and the Ministry’s stance on granting a transitional period or exemption for students who had already initiated transfer procedures before the decision was issued.

Furthermore, he called for a reconsideration of the decision and the granting of a transitional exemption for students who had begun transfer procedures prior to its issuance, in order to safeguard their rights and legal positions. He also urged the establishment of a binding timeline for announcing any decisions related to different educational pathways well in advance of their implementation, alongside conducting a societal dialogue involving representatives of international schools, parents, and education experts. This should be accompanied by a review of the policies governing international qualifications to achieve a balance between maintaining educational quality and respecting the freedom to choose an educational pathway, in line with the state’s direction toward supporting international education and enhancing the competitiveness of the Egyptian educational system.