Watani –
As the school year begins, the shortage of Christian religious education teachers in a number of Egyptian schools has returned to the forefront. The Ministry of Education is moving to hire teachers on a per-class basis to address the shortage, while members of Parliament and specialists are calling for more sustainable solutions that guarantee students their right to study the subject under qualified teachers.
Specialists in Christian religious education spoke of mechanisms for coordination between the Ministry of Education and the Coptic Orthodox Church in selecting and training teachers. They pointed to the initiative to train Christian religious education teachers under the “1,000 Teachers” project, adopted by Pope Tawadros II in cooperation with the Training Center at the Church’s Media Center and under the supervision of Father Boulos Halim. The initiative conducted a number of training sessions in different dioceses, in cooperation with the education directorates in their respective governorates.
Dr. Abdallah Ibrahim Hanna, an education expert, said that the teaching of Christian religious education has seen some tangible developments recently. He stressed that success in this area depends primarily on direct coordination and cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and the Coptic Orthodox Church.
Dr. Hanna explained that one of the most important steps taken recently was raising the compensation for each Christian religious education class taught under the contract system to EGP 50 (about one $). A “special code” has also been introduced for teachers working on a per-class basis, with the aim of organizing their records, ensuring continuity of employment, and enabling their financial entitlements to be paid regularly.
He called for selection criteria to require a university degree, preferably in education when available, along with verification of the teacher’s competence and ability to teach the subject. He explained that the initiative had been successfully implemented in several dioceses, although shortages remain in some areas.
Key Challenges and Obstacles to Teaching the Subject
In this context, the education expert reviewed a number of practical challenges that continue to impede the teaching of Christian religious education in some schools and educational districts.
Dr. Hanna called for reconsidering the teaching of religious subjects at the kindergarten level, given the lack of specialized teachers in some schools. He warned that the absence of balance in providing religious instruction could result in such instruction being offered in “only one religious direction.” He therefore recommended that religion not be taught at this stage and that kindergarten instead be devoted to shared skills and activities, while also taking into account the children’s age and the nature of the content presented to them.
He stressed the importance of churches preparing suitable Christian education curricula for Sunday schools. This would help compensate for the shortage of teachers or class periods in some schools and ensure that students continue to receive appropriate religious knowledge.
He also referred to an earlier Church proposal to enlist students from the theological seminary to teach Christian religious education in schools, explaining that the proposal was not accepted by the official authorities.
Proposals to Improve the System and Ensure Teaching Quality
Dr. Abdallah Ibrahim Hanna concluded his remarks with a set of recommendations aimed at improving the system for teaching Christian religious education and strengthening coordination between the Church and the Ministry of Education.
Hanna emphasized that improving the teaching of Christian religious education requires continued cooperation between the Church and the Ministry of Education, as well as addressing shortcomings in teacher provision, training, and financial compensation, in order to ensure regular instruction and improve the quality of education.
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Edited from: https://www.wataninet.com/2026/10/عبد-الله-إبراهيم-عجز-معلمي-التربية-
