Education in ancient Egypt was shaped by its conservative social system. While education was valued, it was largely restricted to the children of those with means. As the same families often staffed civilian and military positions in the palace administration across generations, education was one of the means by which institutional memory was transferred down the generations.
The history of ancient Egyptian education system remains unclear and its origins have not come down to us. However, an education system in one form or another existed throughout ancient Egypt’s long history. Its roots possibly lie at the beginning of the Egyptian Kingdom in 3000BC, although in the absence of any corroborating archaeological or historical evidence this is largely speculation.
Facts About Education In Ancient Egypt
- Ancient Egypt’s education syllabus included reading, writing, morality, mathematics, sports and religious instruction
- The Egyptians used hieroglyphs or symbols in their written language. Their language was primarily comprised of consonants and had few vowels
- Formal education for young boys began when they turned 7
- Most boys were apprenticed to their father’s trade after completing their formal education
- Scribes provided secular instruction on reading, writing, medicine and mathematics
- Priests taught lessons on religion and morality
- Surviving images show children seated at their desks in a classroom, while a teacher is seated at a larger desk
- Most women in ancient Egypt were not allowed to receive a formal education but were homeschooled
- Lower-class women could rarely read or write
Access To Education
Hence, it was customary for children of the elite of Egyptian society to attend school as members of these families required instruction in a range of disciplines to ensure the efficient governance of the country. Common subjects covered by ancient Egypt’s education syllabus included reading, writing, morality, mathematics, sports and religious instruction.
Girls were not sent to school but were home educated by their mothers. Girls received instruction on reading cooking, sewing and managing the household. These topics were seen as socially important for women and education beyond these topics was considered to be superfluous.
Children from Egypt’s lower classes rarely received an education due to its cost, the limited number of schools available and reservation of school places for children from royal and wealthy backgrounds.
Ancient Egypt’s Education System
Mothers were responsible for educating their children, both boys and girls until the boys reached 4 years of age. From that age onwards, their fathers took on the responsibility for teaching their boys. Respect for parents, particularly for their mothers, was ingrained in the children and there was a keen focus on morals, manners and developing a work ethic. Disrespect and slothfulness were punished severely.
Archaeological evidence suggests parallels exist between ancient Egyptian and modern education settings. Images on tombs and temples show children seated at their desks in a classroom, while a teacher is seated at a larger desk.
When young boys turned 7, they began their formal education. Students read educational texts, called Kemty. These were written vertically rather than in the left to right
Ancient Egypt’s Teachers
Ancient Egypt’s teachers fell into two categories: priests and scribes. The role of priests was to provide lessons on religion and morality. Scribes provided secular instruction on reading, writing and subjects including medicine and mathematics. In the ancient Egyptian education system, the same scribe would teach all the school’s subjects. This was especially common in village schools.
Specialised teachers taught in schools dedicated to teaching a specialised stream of education. One type of education was known as “Instruction of Wisdom.” Its syllabus consisted of lessons on morality and ethics. Other specialised educational streams included medicine for doctors and mathematics for construction work.
