New university foundation year has both critics and backers

The introduction in Egypt of a university foundation year will allow students who completed high school with low scores to pursue the faculty specialisation they desire, but it’s not without controversy, writes Ahmed Al-Deeb for Ahram Online.

The one-year programme, approved by the National Cabinet, will enable students who do not meet the minimum high school grade requirements to enrol in private and non-profit national universities starting the next academic year.

Critics argue for a thorough review of the measure, warning that it risks reducing the quality of Egypt’s higher education and transforming universities into profit-driven entities without delivering genuine educational value. Conversely, proponents contend that the foundation year is a widely adopted practice the world over, independent of high school grades, designed to equip students with essential skills and broaden their knowledge base to pursue advanced studies across various disciplines.
Full report on the Ahram Online site