Good Governance in Basic Education in Egypt: Paradoxical or Self Explanatory?

Abstract

Despite the numerous initiatives suggested and implemented to reform education in Egypt, very little was achieved in terms of improving education quality and, consequently, boosting development and democratic transition processes in Egypt. This paper argued that basic education in Egypt suffered variant degrees of weaknesses in applying good governance dimensions, including participation, accountability, responsiveness, fighting corruption, effectiveness and transparency, which ultimately affected negatively the overall performance of the basic education sector in Egypt. Building on the results of an assessment to governance in basic education in Egypt, the paper evaluated the degree to which basic education service providers in Egypt applied the principles of good governance (i.e. participation, accountability, responsiveness, fighting corruption, effectiveness, transparency, rule of law, efficiency and equity). The assessment was based on nationally-owned governance indicators structured in the form of a composite index. The paper highlighted the reasons behind the limited impact and weakness of basic education in Egypt from a governance perspective. Finally, the paper offered a new insight to improve basic education in Egypt. This insight focused on good governance in education as a technique towards a better quality and more democratic education.