Inclusiveness in University Education in Egypt

Emily Cupito, Duke University
Ray Langsten, American University in Cairo

In Egypt, before 1952, education, especially university education, was the province of a privileged few. After the 1952 Revolution, in pursuit of social justice and economic development, Egypt’s leaders eliminated university fees, instituted a universal admission examination, promised government employment to all university graduates, and expanded the number of places in higher education. Officials expected these policies to enhance inclusiveness as enrollments grew. We examine the period from 1988 through 2005, when egalitarian policies remained in place, and during which enrollments continued to expand rapidly. This period is marked by continuity and change. Young adults from the wealthiest families maintained a substantial advantage in likelihood of enrolling in university. At the same time, females, and notably females from poor families, came to make up a larger share of the university community.