I am a single father working with an international company that is being transferred to a multi year assignment in Cairo, Egypt. I am due to arrive in Cairo the first week of June, 2008. I have three boys, two in college and one starting his sophomore year of high school. I am seeking advice from teachers (no school administrators!) as to which high school I should send my youngest son to while we are living in Cairo. My two older boys are both interested in spending a year of college attending a University somewhere in Cairo as well. All three of my children are highly motivated self-directed honors students, who have no tolerance for their fellow students playing the "student game" to get by with barely passing grades. I would be interested in meeting with teachers at the appropriate schools directly, if you would prefer to not post your comments on this forum. During my initial stay in Cairo my company will be putting me up at the Cairo Marriott Hotel and Casino. I know some of what international teachers go through with broken contracts and spoiled, unmotivated students. Neither I nor my children are interested in attending an international school that treats the teaching staff as serfs and the students as "do not challenge" royalty. Please help me find a high school and a University that will challenge my sons to become the young men epitomized in Rudyard Kipling's classic poem "If." Once again, if you are currently a school administrator at a school in Cairo, Egypt, I am not interested in "go to my school" propaganda at this point in time. I will meet directly with the teachers at many Cairo, Egypt schools, before I speak directly to any school officials about potential enrollment for my children.
"If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim......"
Cairo, Egypt Schools - USA Parent Seeks Advice
Which School in Cairo
Quite frankly, as a teacher who has friends in Egypt (not at the school I am recommending), and taught in other ME countries plus the UK and Canada, I would recommend Cairo American College (it is a high school) for your son. The campus is in Mahdi, where 80% of the expat community lives, and which is green and safe, and is very well-equipped. It is an extremly good school.
As for university, check out the American Uniiversity. Not sure of the exact name - just google American University + Cairo.
Good luck!
As for university, check out the American Uniiversity. Not sure of the exact name - just google American University + Cairo.
Good luck!
It's the AUC - American University of Cairo. Also there's a newer GUC (German but in English) and BUE (British University in Egypt). Don't know how they compare in terms of standards though. CAC is indeed probably the best school for your son in terms of facilities, location, student body, curriculum and treatment of students and teachers - avoid the other "American" schools and maybe consider two of the British schools (BISC and NCBIS).
CAC is probably your best bet. It's the most "American" of any of the schools, and it is pretty good. There are some other good schools in Cairo, AIS-Egypt and MES but they are mostly Egyptian or Middle Eastern students. While this can be a fascinating experience, it can be really tough for a new American student to adjust - especially in high school.
AUC is an okay university. Nothing really good, nothing really bad. It has a very basic curriculum.
Most expats live in Maadi, but others are spread around Heliopolis, Garden City and Zamalek.
Have you spoken with any schools? I don't think CAC fills up, especially in high school, but I don't know.
I am a teacher at one of the "other schools" and I wouldn't say avoid them. This shows a lack of knowledge of their programs, culture, etc. I do think that CAC is probably a better fit, but it also depends upon what you are looking for. If you are looking for an "Egyptian experience", CAC is not going to give you that. If you want a school that is most like an American school and little bit of Egypt and you want to minimize stress while keeping roughly the same curriculum, then CAC is a good fit. If your child is a good student, then any of the American schools will offer an interesting learning experience that they will remember forever.
AUC is an okay university. Nothing really good, nothing really bad. It has a very basic curriculum.
Most expats live in Maadi, but others are spread around Heliopolis, Garden City and Zamalek.
Have you spoken with any schools? I don't think CAC fills up, especially in high school, but I don't know.
I am a teacher at one of the "other schools" and I wouldn't say avoid them. This shows a lack of knowledge of their programs, culture, etc. I do think that CAC is probably a better fit, but it also depends upon what you are looking for. If you are looking for an "Egyptian experience", CAC is not going to give you that. If you want a school that is most like an American school and little bit of Egypt and you want to minimize stress while keeping roughly the same curriculum, then CAC is a good fit. If your child is a good student, then any of the American schools will offer an interesting learning experience that they will remember forever.
AIS
AIS Egypt has reasonably good facilities, a great group of teachers, even a decent financial office, but this is a VERY difficult place for a Western student that doesn't speak Arabic. While the sign out front says "American International School" it's essentially an Egyptian Private School as soon as you step through the doors. The curriculum is American and the classes are conducted in English, but the near impossibility of getting the 98% Egyptian student population to speak English leads naturally to the marginalization of the "International" component. The student culture within the school is of the opinion that any Egyptian caught speaking English to another Egyptian is 'pretentious'. The obvious result of this is that the students don't learn the language and the standards of student work remains at a very low level.
While I agree that for a true 'Egyptian' experience AIS might be a more authentic school, with great opportunities to meet Egyptians and experience their culture, that isn't necessarily a positive attribute when trying to gain a quality education.
While I agree that for a true 'Egyptian' experience AIS might be a more authentic school, with great opportunities to meet Egyptians and experience their culture, that isn't necessarily a positive attribute when trying to gain a quality education.
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TexianTravel
- Posts: 44
- Joined: Thu Nov 30, 2006 11:35 pm
- Location: Egypt
I moved from a Cairo school last year to an inner city school in the states this year. Last year I taught the children of the wealthy, people who own hotels and shopping malls, and this year I teach in the "hood." There is far more resemblance between those two groups than you would think. They resemble each other more than they do the middle class. Most Egyptian private schools, and the others are right, the only truly "international" school in Cairo is CAC, can only be afforded by the wealthy. So many of the attitudes I list below will be exhibited by the Egyptian students.
Each has a sense of entitlement. In the child of poverty this comes from "I have so much less than the rest of the world that I am owed something to make up for it." In the child of privilege it is, "I've always had things given to me and that's the way it should be."
Each has a lack of purpose and the attitude "It doesn't matter what I do." In the child of poverty this is because s/he has never seen success in those around them, coupled with a sense of victimization. In the child of wealth it is generated by the fact that there will always be more than enough money, so why should s/he work to earn more?
Each has a tendency to not take care of their surroundings and materials. In the children of poverty, this is because they don't have nice things. In the child of wealth, they can always get another one.
Now before I totally irritate somebody, let me state I am aware I am speaking in sweeping generalities. I had motivated, hard-working students this year and I did last year. I understand there are exceptions to every rule. The above is merely my observation of the characteristics of these students in general.
But the values you are looking for, of committment to excellence and a high work ethic, are middle class American values, and you will only find them where middle class Americans dominate. That is CAC.
As an aside, "the student game" was less of "what is the minimum I can do to pass" and more of "hey, I paid for an A and that's what I'm going to get."
Each has a sense of entitlement. In the child of poverty this comes from "I have so much less than the rest of the world that I am owed something to make up for it." In the child of privilege it is, "I've always had things given to me and that's the way it should be."
Each has a lack of purpose and the attitude "It doesn't matter what I do." In the child of poverty this is because s/he has never seen success in those around them, coupled with a sense of victimization. In the child of wealth it is generated by the fact that there will always be more than enough money, so why should s/he work to earn more?
Each has a tendency to not take care of their surroundings and materials. In the children of poverty, this is because they don't have nice things. In the child of wealth, they can always get another one.
Now before I totally irritate somebody, let me state I am aware I am speaking in sweeping generalities. I had motivated, hard-working students this year and I did last year. I understand there are exceptions to every rule. The above is merely my observation of the characteristics of these students in general.
But the values you are looking for, of committment to excellence and a high work ethic, are middle class American values, and you will only find them where middle class Americans dominate. That is CAC.
As an aside, "the student game" was less of "what is the minimum I can do to pass" and more of "hey, I paid for an A and that's what I'm going to get."