Rights group calls for Egypt to improve access to education and healthcare – JURIST

Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated on Wednesday that the Egyptian government has “severely undermined the rights to education and health care” through a lack of funding. It called for the government to “guarantee free primary education” and “ensure high-quality health care is universally accessible.”

According to HRW, the Egyptian parliament approved an education budget of around 315 billion Egyptian pounds for the 2025/2026 fiscal year, constituting 1.5 percent of Egypt’s GDP. This marks the lowest level of allocated funds in 10 years, violating the country’s constitutional obligations which require that no less than 6 percent of GDP is spent on education. International benchmarks further recommend a minimum of 4 to 6 percent. The parliament also approved 1.2 percent of GDP for healthcare expenditures, under the constitutionally mandated minimum of 3 percent.

HRW stated that the low percentage of government funding translates to educational shortages and increased school costs, such as public schools charging fees for primary education. The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights estimated a shortage of 250,000 classrooms and 655,000 teachers in February 2025. Local reports further show that students often do not have chairs or desks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a ratio of 10 doctors per 10,000 people. Per 2020 WHO observatory data, Egypt sits at 6.7. A study from the American University of Cairo (AUC) found that the shortage of doctors is a result of poor working conditions and lack of resources, equipment, and medical supplies. This lack of healthcare workers creates a barrier to accessing proper medical care. There is also reportedly a lack of resources, with doctors paying personally for many basic health care necessities. WHO published that approximately 57.2 percent of healthcare expenditures in 2023 were paid out of pocket.

Amr Magdi, a senior researcher at HRW, criticized the government for its “deep indifference towards its citizens’ rights.” The Egyptian Prime Minister stated in December 2025 that the government “prioritized health and education” and emphasized the importance of private health services as a complement to state facilities.

The right to education and healthcare is enshrined in international law. HRW reported writing to the Egyptian ministers of Education and Health on December 22, 2025, to inform them of its findings. To date, the Egyptian government has not responded.