Egypt’s Ministry of Education has issued a powerful set of directives designed to strengthen student safety in private schools that follow an international curriculum. The move comes after serious allegations of abuse involving young students at a Cairo based language school, prompting immediate nationwide changes. The original report was published by Al-Ahram English.
These new requirements, introduced through ministerial Circular No. 19, must now be implemented by all private international schools. The message is clear. Student protection is non-negotiable.
Similar safety concerns are being raised in other parts of the world as well. A recent EDU News report, Nigeria’s Mass School Kidnapping Sparks Urgent Fears for Student Safety, highlights how violence and instability continue to threaten students and educators in vulnerable regions.
Schools Must Upgrade Surveillance Systems
One of the most significant changes is the requirement for full surveillance coverage. All areas of the school campus, including classrooms, corridors, common spaces, and outdoor areas, must now be monitored by camera systems.
Schools must assign multiple staff members to actively monitor the camera feeds during the full school day. Any suspicious activity, safety violation, or breach of conduct must be reported immediately to the school principal. This moves surveillance from passive recording to active oversight.
For many school leaders, this will require an urgent review of current infrastructure and investment in upgraded systems.
Mandatory Drug Testing for All Staff
All school employees must now undergo regular drug testing. This applies to teachers, administrators, supervisors, drivers, and all support staff. Test results must be submitted before a school can receive or renew its official license.
New employees must also submit clean drug test results before starting work. This ensures that every adult in the learning environment meets strict safety standards from day one.
While this requirement increases administration, it also sets a strong example of accountability and professionalism across the education sector.
Body Safety Awareness Becomes a Formal Priority
Schools are now required to integrate body safety education into their annual training and development plans. Specialists must be brought in to deliver sessions for students, teachers, administrative staff, support workers, and parents.
School counseling units and Parent Teacher Councils will lead extended awareness programs focused on personal boundaries, recognizing unsafe behavior, and knowing how and when to speak up.
This marks an important shift toward prevention rather than reaction. Students are not only protected by rules and systems, but also by knowledge and awareness.
Tighter Control of Who Can be on Campus
Strict controls have been placed on who is allowed to enter and remain inside school grounds during operating hours. Maintenance workers are no longer permitted on campus while students are present. They may only enter after 5 p.m. or on official holidays.
Security personnel are also restricted. They cannot remain inside school buildings during the school day. They must leave once the final student has safely departed.
Bathrooms, often considered vulnerable areas, now require constant supervision. Each bathroom must be monitored by two female attendants from before student arrival until at least one hour after dismissal.
These steps are designed to eliminate blind spots and reduce opportunities for misconduct.
New Supervision Standards And School Responsibilities
The Ministry has set a minimum supervision ratio of one adult for every six students. This applies across classrooms, corridors, playgrounds, and shared areas.
Schools are also prohibited from allowing students to enter the campus more than 15 minutes before morning assembly. School principals are required to remain on site until the last student leaves the premises.
Young learners must be supervised at all times. Kindergarten and primary students may not be left unattended, including while traveling on school buses. Every operating school bus must include a school appointed supervisor whose contract is officially approved by the relevant education authorities.
These steps reinforce a continuous chain of care from arrival to departure.
Employment Documentation Must be Updated
All school employees must regularize their employment status within two weeks. This includes submitting complete documentation such as background checks and criminal record certificates.
Foreign employees must provide government approved contracts and valid work permits to legally continue their work in Egyptian schools.
This ensures that every individual working around students has been properly vetted.
Regular Inspections And Strong Consequences
To ensure compliance, special inspection committees will conduct routine visits to private and international schools. These committees will assess whether the new safety rules are being followed effectively.
Schools that fail to meet the standards may be placed under administrative and financial supervision. They may also face legal penalties under existing ministerial regulations.
The focus is not only on discipline. It is on long term protection and structural reform.
The Incident Behind The New Measures
These directives were introduced following an alleged sexual abuse incident involving a group of kindergarten pupils at a language school in Cairo. The case is currently under investigation by public prosecutors.
In response to the allegations, the Ministry of Education has already placed the school under full administrative and financial supervision. This was done to protect students and enforce accountability while investigations continue.
What This Means for Global Educators
For teachers, school leaders, and education professionals around the world, Egypt’s response sends a strong message. Safeguarding is not an optional policy. It is the foundation of every healthy learning environment.
As global education becomes more connected, safety must remain the highest priority. Transparent processes, strict hiring standards, and strong supervision are essential for building trust between schools, families, and communities.
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