A number of parents of high school students in three Egyptian governorates have complained about a shortage of German language teachers, resulting in students being forced to choose between French and Italian as their second language. This has caused frustration among parents and students who had initially opted for German. According to sources, the shortage of teachers has led to some schools not offering German as an option.
In Alexandria, several parents from different school districts reported that their children were unable to study German due to a lack of qualified teachers. As a result, students were compelled to choose either Italian or French, despite their initial preference for German. One parent, Thana Mahmoud, stated that her daughter had been preparing for German language courses during the summer, only to find out that there were no available teachers.
The Egyptian Ministry of Education has responded to the concerns, stating that the provision of teachers for specific languages depends on student demand. According to Dr. Arabi Abouzid, Deputy Minister of Education in Alexandria, no official complaints have been received regarding the shortage of German language teachers. The ministry has assured that they are working to address the issue through various means, including hiring part-time teachers.
In the Red Sea governorate, parents and students expressed their discontent with the decision to replace German with French in some schools, citing the lack of qualified German teachers. One parent, Malk Muhammad, argued that the decision was made without considering the students' and parents' preferences, which could negatively impact their future academic plans.
Faiza Ahmed, Director General of General Education in the Red Sea governorate, explained that the decision to replace German with French was due to the lack of qualified teachers and the absence of new applicants for the position. She emphasized that this change only applies to new students and does not affect those who have previously chosen German as their second language.
In the Gharbiya governorate, parents have been complaining about the shortage of German language teachers since last year. However, some have opted for private lessons and courses to address the issue rather than switching to another language. A source from the Ministry of Education revealed that the provision of teachers for specific languages is determined by student demand, and part-time teachers are hired to fill any gaps.
The Ministry of Education has assured that they are working to address the shortage of German language teachers and provide students with their preferred language options. The issue has highlighted the challenges faced by the education system in Egypt, particularly in providing students with a range of language options.
Key points
- The shortage of German language teachers in Egypt has led to limited options for students, with some being forced to choose between French and Italian.
- The Ministry of Education has responded to the concerns, stating that they are working to address the issue through various means, including hiring part-time teachers.
- The issue has highlighted the challenges faced by the education system in Egypt, particularly in providing students with a range of language options.
