The Thanawya Amma is a crucial gateway to higher education and, subsequently, the job market. It can be a double-edged sword, with high scores unlocking doors to prestigious faculties.

However, those who fall short have limited access to these opportunities, potentially leading them to lower-paying jobs.

While Thanawya Amma offers a valuable foundation, the job market is evolving. This raises concerns about its ability to fully prepare students for the current workforce.

The Duality of Thanawya Amma: Opportunity and Reform

High scores play a big role in the Thanawya Amma education system. They define the future of students as a primary determinant for admission into prestigious universities in Egypt, often leading to lucrative career paths after graduation.

Earlier in June, Minister of Education and Technical Education Reda Hegazy announced that 745,086 students are taking the Thanawya Amma exam in 2024. Among them, 434,574 are in the science section, 102,827 in the mathematics section, and 207,685 in the humanities section.

Developing the Thanawya Amma system can prepare students for the labor market. Norhan Nabil AbdelAziz, an HR recruitment freelancer, tells Arab Finance, “I believe that Thanawya Amma's new system will prepare students to do more research using tablets. It will enable students to be aware of their rights and better understand the labor law.”

Yet, the Thanawya Amma system needs further curriculum development to meet labor market demands. Hence, AbdelAziz suggests including a section on taxes in the curriculum due to the rapid changes in the tax system.

However, the Egyptian labor market does not only need university graduates. AbdelAziz explains, “Diversity is the key to success. Having people of various experiences, ages, and talents create fertile soil for creativity and innovation.”

Many parents prefer enrolling their teenage children in the Thanawya Amma system. Noura, a mother of a third-year female student of Thanawya Amma, tells Arab Finance, “Honestly, there are many alternatives to Thanawya Amma that I like, but I feel that they do not guarantee a girl's future.”

“Most alternatives are more suitable for boys, except maybe programming and technology-related schools,” Noura adds, highlighting her reluctance to take the risk with her daughter’s education.

Beyond Thanawya Amma: Embracing Technical Education

As the job market evolves, businesses require diverse skills. In the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, unemployment rates were 37.8% for people with intermediate and upper intermediate qualifications, and 44.7% for those with university qualifications, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).

Choosing Thanawya Amma over technical schools affects the country’s development. “Many parents prefer Thanawya Amma education for their children over vocational education, petroleum schools, or STEM schools. This preference impacts the balance in the labor market, which needs skilled talents and experienced workers,” Aya Zain, HR Administrator at Harfonline, says.

“Thanawya Amma focuses only on grades, neglecting practical experience and talent. Thus, it delivers high-grade students who do not have the necessary skills for various fields," Zain explains to Arab Finance.

Therefore, some parents have already started to acknowledge their children’s interests and enroll them in schools that develop their talents.

Sabry, a lawyer and parent of a year-one male student at a vocational/technical secondary school, says, “My son is not interested in studying theories and is more into technical learning. However, he has not decided yet what he likes more.”

“He has started studying vehicle mechanics in school and joined a carpenter’s workshop outside,” Sabry notes.

Parents have realized that technical fields are needed in the labor market. Sabry explains, “Many university students are not working in their field of study nowadays. Besides, the state’s current approach is to back technical work, which makes technical schools a better choice as such fields are in demand.”

Moreover, developing different skills and talents prepares an entire generation of cadres and professionals. This improves productivity and boosts labor exports in the Egyptian technical sector, aligning with Egypt Vision 2030, according to the Ministry of Education and Technical Education.

Hence, Zain emphasized the need to raise awareness of market needs more than calling for joining top universities. Diversifying employment opportunities will help more people find jobs.

Thanawya Amma undeniably plays a vital role in shaping Egypt's future workforce. However, its current focus on high-stakes exams may not adequately equip students with the diverse skillsets needed in the changing job market. That is why recognizing this duality is crucial.

Modernizing the Thanawya Amma curriculum to incorporate practical skills and promoting alternative educational paths like technical schools are essential steps.

By Sarah Samir

Seeking Balance: Reforming Thanawya Amma for Workforce Reality Updated 8/3/2025 9:00:00 AM

Education Ministry imposes increase in private, international school fees Updated 9/7/2023 10:13:00 AM