Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly ordered on Sunday to develop a five-year plan to counter the deficit of teachers in schools. 

Madbouly held a meeting to follow up on the Ministry of Education’s proposed measures to fill the shortage of teachers in various schools, 

The meeting aimed to resolve the issue before the expected increase in the number of students in the next five years.

The Prime Minister also directed government authorities to set up testing modules to adequately select teachers.

Last September, the education ministry announced it was hiring part-time teachers for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year to make up for the current shortage of teachers in all grades. The part-timers, who should be graduates of a university of a relevant specialty, will be trained on modern teaching methods. 

According to the ministry, there is a shortage of 320,000 teachers. 

Head of the Teachers’ Syndicate Khalaf Al-Zanati criticised the concept of part-time teaching, saying it could seriously affect the educational system because they do not have the proper training.

Given that schools are currently facing a shortage of teachers, the ministry is also calling on people to volunteer in public schools. 

The ministry said that the volunteer’s role will be limited to assisting teachers in activities and preparing lessons, or replacing the teacher in the event of their absence.