Egypt has a large and growing population, with an estimated 101.5 million people in
2021,
according to the World Bank.
The percentage of the population below the age of 18 is around 37.6%, according to the
World
Bank.
This demographic trend is driving a growing demand for higher education in Egypt, as
more
young people seek opportunities to advance their education and career prospects.
However, the supply of higher education in Egypt is currently insufficient to meet this
demand. According to UNESCO, the gross enrollment ratio in tertiary education in Egypt
was
only 36% in 2019, indicating a significant gap between demand and supply.
Government Commitment to Improving Higher Education
The Egyptian government has recognized the need to improve higher
education in the country and has made significant investments in recent years to achieve
this goal.
The government's Education 2.0 reform program, launched in 2014, aims to modernize the
education system and improve the quality and relevance of higher education.
In 2020, the government announced plans to establish 20 new private universities and
expand existing ones, with the goal of increasing enrollment and improving the quality
of higher education in Egypt.
The government has also implemented initiatives to support research and innovation in
higher education, such as the Science, Technology, and Innovation Fund, which was
launched in 2018 to support research projects in key sectors.
