Education in Ancient Egypt: From Primary Schools to Higher Studies
Researcher Nagat Essam, specializing in the history of
ancient Egypt, has uncovered details about the educational system of the
ancient Egyptians, the first to establish schools and promote literacy. They
also practiced homeschooling. The age of admission for children to schools was
ten, initially limited to the sons of kings, nobles, and elites. Over time, the
ancient Egyptian civilization expanded the establishment of schools and
specialized educational institutions. The Egyptians introduced vocational
education, teaching trade and administration, and established military schools
for training in combat and military sciences, as well as religious schools attached
to temples.
Formal schools in Egypt date back to the Middle Kingdom,
where the first schoolbooks appeared. These schools were initially housed in
the royal palace. Archaeological discoveries confirm the existence of schools
throughout ancient Egypt, such as the Ramesseum school, one in Deir el-Medina
in Thebes (modern Luxor), another in Akhenaten’s city at Tell el-Amarna, and
schools in Abydos (Sohag), On (Heliopolis), and Tel Basta, among others.
The ancient Egyptians referred to schools in hieroglyphs
as "Per Ankh," meaning "House of Life," and sometimes as
"Iat Seba," meaning "Place of Learning." Teachers were
called "Sebaw," meaning "star" or "guide."
Each school had libraries, known as "Per
Seshu," meaning "House of Scrolls," containing papyri on various
subjects, serving as textbooks and references for students. The goddess Seshat
was the patron deity of these libraries. Education was mostly conducted
outdoors in open courtyards rather than in closed classrooms, a system that
some modern countries strive to emulate. Students would sit on the ground
around their teacher.
The First Stage
Education in ancient Egypt was divided into several
stages, starting with primary school, where students learned the basics of
religion, the alphabet, and arithmetic. Teaching methods in this stage involved
encouraging learning through simple explanations, sometimes accompanied by
punishment. Students at this level were not allowed to use papyrus for writing
but practiced on pottery and limestone. After completing this stage, students
were employed as scribes in government offices, progressing to the second stage
of education.
The Second Stage
In the second stage, scribes continued their education
under the guidance of senior scribes. This phase became increasingly complex,
focusing on advanced writing skills and arithmetic, and can be considered a
vocational training stage that prepared scribes for administrative work in
government offices.
The Third Stage
Dr. Saeed Ismail, in his book *Ancient Egyptian
Civilization*, describes the third stage as equivalent to today’s postgraduate
studies. In this stage, students pursued more specialized knowledge in
medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and the arts. These schools were attached to
palaces and temples and gathered the most educated and cultured scribes. Books
on various sciences, including theology, medicine, and engineering, were
written here.
Dr. Ismail outlined the ancient Egyptian curriculum,
which consisted of six main subjects. Language, including reading and writing,
was treated with great reverence, as it was believed to be one of the divine
secrets. Egyptian writing evolved into a phonetic language, using a complex
system of signs arranged to convey meaning.
Literature was closely connected to writing, with proper
linguistic expression and rhetoric being emphasized. According to Dr. Selim
Hassan’s book *Ancient Egyptian Literature*, ancient Egyptian literature ranged
from prose letters to poetry, much of which focused on religious and moral
themes, such as the *Papyrus of Ani* and its depiction of the afterlife. Some
works also highlighted the struggles of Egyptians, such as *The Eloquent
Peasant*.
The Curriculum in Ancient Egypt
Egyptologist Dr. Abdel Rahim notes that the curriculum in
ancient Egypt included various arts and sciences, such as medicine and
pharmacy. Egyptian knowledge of anatomy was advanced due to their mastery of
mummification, which led to their expertise in diagnosing and treating
diseases, either through medicines or surgery, as documented in medical papyri
and temple wall scenes that illustrate their medical prowess.
Astronomy and Arts
The ancient Egyptians were pioneers in astronomy and the
development of the calendar, using these skills to determine agricultural
cycles. They also excelled in the arts, particularly in painting, sculpture,
engraving, architecture, music, and singing. Their paintings and carvings often
depicted religious themes, illustrating relationships with the gods and the
journey to the afterlife. Some carvings also portrayed daily life in ancient
Egypt.
Mathematics
The Egyptians were familiar with numbers from the
earliest historical periods. Mathematics flourished during the 12th Dynasty, as
evidenced by papyri containing detailed explanations of land measurements,
division, multiplication, and mathematical roots. This knowledge enabled them
to calculate land areas and impose appropriate taxes. Dr. Ismail considers the
construction of the pyramids to be proof of the Egyptians’ superiority in
mathematics and engineering.
