Kindergarten classes in mosques - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Osama Raslan, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Endowments, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the protocol is scheduled to be implemented immediately on a pilot basis in Qena governorate in preparation for a nationwide rollout after an evaluation by the end of this summer. He noted that daily evaluations will take place, emphasising that all those involved in the educational process are education graduates who have studied educational psychology and are committed to a curriculum implemented by the Ministry of Education, incorporating ethics and behaviours.
Raslan added that Ministry of Education teachers will be assigned to receive children in morning shifts at mosques, which run from 8am to 1pm. They are also responsible for equipping mosque annexes with appropriate educational tools and enhancing mosque courtyards with games, ensuring a blend of education and recreation for children.
Raslan emphasised that only one mosque in each village will receive children aged four to six, and that it must have an annex, where mourning events and wedding ceremonies are held and which are commonly known as event halls. This is to make clear that children will not attend classes within the mosque area designated for prayer.
According to Raslan, this protocol aims to make good use of the two ministries' capabilities to achieve the goals of building an authentic Egyptian character, fostering a love of reading and learning, and connecting generations to their cultural and civilisational heritage. 'We need to exploit under-utilised assets,' said Raslan.
In response to some objections that this should not be done in mosques and that it is better to do it in schools, Raslan clarified that school buildings are busy throughout the year and when there are no classes, school grounds need to be maintained for the next academic year.
He asserted that according to the protocol, kindergarten classes are free for all segments of the Egyptian population, and that accepting Christian children into the nurseries is not prohibited. This is to reassure citizens that the protocol serves all Egyptians without exception. He adds that limiting it to Muslims is a violation of the Egyptian constitution and heritage.
Mona Ahmed, a kindergarten teacher for more than 25 years, told the Weekly that the idea is excellent because it prevents children from sitting in front of TV and mobile screens all day. It will also provide a useful educational and moral dose for a large part of the day. Based on her long experience, Ahmed said private nurseries are currently very expensive, which prevents many parents from enrolling their children.
She adds that the kindergarten curriculum focuses on teaching the basics of reading and writing in the Arabic language and teaching linguistics such as demonstrative pronouns, singular and plural, in addition to the principles of arithmetic and exploration. 'The idea is excellent,' Ahmed said. 'It will help them to prepare well for the primary stage.'
* A version of this article appears in print in the 6 August, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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