Photo Sparks Debate Over Face Veils at Egyptian School
Listen to the story
A photo taken at a school in Qena, Egypt, has caused a strong public debate.
The photo appeared to show girl students wearing the niqab, a cloth that covers a woman's face.
This led many people to ask whether the school had forced its students to wear it.
At the same time, Egypt's Ministry of Education has set new regulations on school clothing.
These rules explain what students can and cannot wear to school for the 2026/2027 year.
The ministry said some types of clothing will not be allowed inside schools.
The new rules come at a time when school dress has become a public topic in Egypt.
School uniforms have a long history in the country, going back 70 years.
Older generations remember wearing a simple beige pinafore, a loose dress worn over regular clothes.
Over the decades, this changed to more modern uniform styles used today.
Many Egyptians say these uniforms remind them of their own school days.
The story of the Qena photo has connected to this wider discussion about school dress rules.
People online have shared different opinions about student clothing and personal choice.
Some support clear national rules, while others worry about pressure on students.
The Ministry of Education has not given full details about every new rule yet.
Egyptian media say the debate is likely to continue as the new school year approaches.
Vocabulary11 words
- debate
- a public discussion with different opinions
- niqab
- a cloth covering a woman's face
- regulations
- official rules set by an authority
- ministry
- a government department
- uniforms
- standard clothes worn at school
- pinafore
- a simple loose dress worn over clothes
- generations
- groups of people born around the same time
- authority
- an official group with power to make rules
- forced
- made someone do something against their will
- topic
- a subject people talk about
- decades
- periods of ten years
Quiz
Answer key
1. A photo showing girls wearing the niqab at a school in Qena 2. Set new rules on school clothing for 2026/2027 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
A photo taken at a school in Qena, Egypt, has caused a strong public _____.
The photo appeared to show girl students wearing the _____.
This led many people to ask whether the school had _____ its students to wear it.
Egypt's Ministry of Education has set new _____ on school clothing.
These rules explain what students can and cannot wear for the 2026/2027 _____.
The ministry said some types of clothing will not be _____ inside schools.
School _____ have a long history in the country, going back 70 years.
Older generations remember wearing a simple beige _____.
Over the _____, this changed to more modern uniform styles used today.
The story of the Qena photo has connected to this wider discussion about school dress _____.