The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) expressed its dismay at the decision issued on 26 November by the Administrative Court’s Justice Chamber of the State’s Council that rejected 19 of the petitions EIPR had filed against the Minister of Education’s decision to exclude teachers who passed appointment tests. The tests were part of the “30,000 teachers” competition the Central Agency for Organization and Administration (CAOA) launched in July 2022.

The competition was part of a government plan aimed at appointing 30,000 teachers to fill the gap in the number of teachers in Egyptian schools. However, a large number of those who passed the competition were surprisingly denied employment on manifestly discriminatory grounds and in violation of the constitution and national laws. These reasons had to do with obesity, height, pregnancy, recent birth, or failure to pass medical, physical and mental fitness tests. Those tests were all held at the Defense Ministry’s Military Academy in Cairo under the academy’s supervision.

EIPR said the court rejected the first batch of petitions, 19 in number, the organization had filed on behalf of the plaintiffs, and that it is waiting for the written reasoning of the rulings to be made available to study them and take the next legal steps. It warned of the repercussions of these rulings, which legitimize the violation of constitutional rights, foremost of which are equality, non-discrimination and the right to work.

EIPR submitted the appeals to the Administrative Court in its capacity as legal representative for 106 excluded teachers (94 females and 12 males). The excluded teachers took tests in 17 governorates, namely Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Sharkia, Gharbia, Kafr El-Sheikh, Suez, Ismailia, Dakahlia, Qalyubia, Menoufia, Beheira, Beni Suef, Fayoum, Sohag, Qena, and Aswan. Fifty of them were excluded due to obesity, 28 due to pregnancy, and 28 for failing to pass the oral interviews.

It is noteworthy that the rulings contradicted the advisory opinion of the court’s Commissioners Authority, which came in favour of the excluded teachers in call filed cases. These reports were based on the published requirements of the competition and the fact that the plaintiffs met them. The reports confirmed that the plaintiffs passed the digital, mental, physical and pedagogical tests and were just waiting for the final appointment decision to be issued so they would start their new jobs. The Commissioners' reports noted that passing the tests was already a prelude to the issuance of the appointment decisions.

Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that many of the plaintiffs already worked or still work as part-time teachers at public schools and have a positive contribution to the educational process, but now are excluded and deprived of full-time employment as part of the public service on discriminatory grounds that have not affected their pedagogical role throughout their career. Egypt has been grappling with a shortage in the number of teachers, with the Minister of Education recently stating that the shortage increased from 460,000 to 650,000 teachers, after adding a number of classrooms nationwide.

For more details, see: After the commissioners’ reports came in their favour, the Administrative Court examines appeals of the excluded teachers who passed the “30,000 teachers” competition