Egyptian education is something that until the 1952 Revolution, left much to be desired. "Nearly 75% of the population over ten years of age was illiterate. More than 90% of females in this age group were illiterate." Following the Revolution, the Free Officers made education a top priority. The Ministry of Education's budget was increased 100%. Today, the country spends 3.8% of their GDP on education.
Currently, Egyptian preuniversity schooling is run on a nine-year cycle. There are six years of primary school before a student takes examinations to proceed to intermediate schooling. Three years of intermediate schooling allow a student the option of taking examinations for three more years of secondary schooling. Once an individual passes these examinations, he or she can choose between a college preparatory curriculum and a technical curriculum.
Today, 71.4% of the population over age 15 can read and write. The literacy rates among males and females are 83% and 59.4% respectively.
