The system of education in ancient Egypt was practiced at three levels; elementary, secondary and higher.
i) Elementary education
The elementary schools were first established between 3000 BC and 2000 BC to respond to the basic needs of society. They were mainly meant to train their clients in vocations rather than in literacy. The few boys who were lucky to attend these schools started at the age of four years.
The curriculum or content of learning was mainly based on mastering the symbols and signs of writing, although this was initially meant for the sons of the clergy only.
In addition, elementary science, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music were included with the later mainly meant for training the boys in patriotism.
The methods of teaching in these elementary schools were quite simple and did not emphasize high level thinking or problem solving skills. Fixed methods ranged from dictation, memorization, copying of texts, imitation and repetition to participation and observation especially in physical education. Schooling was very demanding with harsh and ruthless discipline enforced by the teachers. They did not entertain laziness and the teachers put a heavy premium on good manners, uprightness, physical fitness and cleanliness.
Education at the elementary level continued until the boys were 14 years. They were considered to have been prepared for life of work.
The boys who never got opportunities to go to school on the other hand were informally trained at home by their fathers in other skills mostly through apprenticeships. The fathers also took the responsibility of teaching about piety, morality, and reverence to the pharaoh for purposes of fitting them into their life stations. The girls on the other hand were never given opportunities to attend school. They were only trained in domestic arts by their mothers.
ii) Secondary Education
This level of education took place in the same premises as the elementary education. It placed a lot of emphasis on writing in terms of style as well as composition of the art of writing. The level did not mark a major change from elementary education as it was merely a continuation, improvement, and consolidation of the previous level of learning.
iii) Higher Education
Higher education was carried out in temples, colleges or universities. Special importance at the higher level was attached to an institution at Tell-el-Armana on the east bank of the Nile which was part of an extensive complex of administration that included a palace, and a temple used for the production of documents on religious and intellectual matters in addition to serving as a center of learned discussion. It was a kind of a university and was named the house of life.
It is important to note that higher and professional learning was meant for priests and professionals and it was therefore guardedly, secretly, and informally passed onto immediate relatives and colleagues of equal status. It was an education that was restricted to those who inherited it by virtue of their birth especially in priest craft and medicine. Among the professionals were teachers who used their homes, offices, business premises and temples to impart knowledge of literature, history, science and skills to the boys. The scribes were highly valued and respected and therefore underwent demanding instruction in order to master the skill of scriveners. Scribes ranked from mere secretaries and book keepers to highly placed learned judges, advocates, and advisers to the pharaohs. Part of their high status was derived from their specialized skill of writing religious and business transactions as well as the history of great people.
marto answered the question on March 19, 2019 at 08:09