Why Egypt? 

Egypt boasts a beautiful landscape filled with cultural gems, from ancient monuments, vast deserts, and world-famous coral reefs to cosmopolitan cities and luxurious resorts.

For those wanting to soak up the country’s culture, you can wander through the ancient city of Cairo, gaze in awe at the Great Pyramids of Giza, sail across the Nile or soak up the sun on a Red Sea resort, while those looking for a more modern experience can visit beach resorts brimming with luxury, take part in water sports activities or enjoy the country’s vast shopping malls. 

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Salary 

Teaching jobs in Egypt offer a range of salaries, typically based on qualifications and experience. 

The average salary for classroom teachers is £21,000 and £29,000 per year depending on years of experience and qualifications. Leadership and administration positions generally offer higher salaries. 

While the salaries are no higher than in the UK, working hours are usually 20-25 hours per week, leaving you plenty of time to travel and explore, and many teachers choose to take on private students to make extra money.

Teaching in Egypt also offers a variety of benefits to licensed teachers. 

Private international schools typically offer a number of incentives, including round-trip flights, accommodation with utilities included, health insurance and transportation to and from the school. 

Academic requirements

In Egypt, which is home to 58 international schools, most teachers will require a teaching degree or certification such as TEFL, and at least two years of experience in a relevant field. 

You will also require a clean police background check for the school, work and residency permit, and prove you’re medically fit. Typically, you’ll also need to provide two teaching references. 

Work and residency permits are arranged for suitably qualified teachers sponsored by your international school in Egypt.

Cost of living

The cost of living in Egypt is approximately 57 per cent lower than in the United Kingdom with rent coming in on average more than 80 per cent cheaper. 

This means, while salaries are not much higher, you should be able to live comfortably; rent per month typically comes in at less than £150, while utilities - which are often covered by an employer - come in at a little more than £20 per month. 

Getting around the country is affordable too, with a one-way ticket on local transport costing as little as 24p. 

Culture

Egypt is a predominately Muslim country with a conservative culture, so it’s imperative you dress appropriately, which for women means covering your arms and legs in public places.

Certain areas are more relaxed as in the Red Sea resort towns, including Dahab, where beachwear is the norm. 

You should also be prepared to tip (a lot) if visiting any of Egypt’s famous tourist destinations. When visiting tombs and temples, for example, the attendants will offer to take a photo of you. 

If you agree, you are expected to give a tip in return. With this in mind, it’s important to carry cash; as well as Egypt’s tipping culture, it only accepts cash payments in most places. 

The views from a teacher in Egypt

Jennifer Cole, Assistant Headteacher at the Modern English School in Cairo: 

“My husband and I joined the Modern English School Cairo in 2012 and love it here. I teach in secondary and he is a primary teacher and our two daughters attend Year 1 and Year 5. 

“As teachers, we have been able to develop professionally with great CPD and opportunities in an outstanding school.

“I love Egypt and the opportunities it has given us to travel. We have been all over the country; from snorkelling in the Red Sea to sleeping under the stars in the Desert, to eating fresh fish that we caught in Lake Nasser to sampling the dates grown in Siwa. 

“Egypt’s culture, history and traditions are diverse and rich and our life has been richer because of it. We have also been able to travel globally from here too, around all of the Middle East, Europe and even over to Asia with a dream trip to Borneo to see the orangutans and Lapland for Christmas.

“Teachers considering a move to Egypt should bring their professionalism, desire to make a difference and an open mind. They should choose their school wisely, too. They will be rewarded in ways they would never expect!”

Maya Jasicka, a teacher at the British School, Alexandria

“Living and teaching in Egypt is the polar opposite to the UK, both in good and bad ways. Teachers and management here are just as passionate as the UK but finish at 4pm and manage to have a good amount of staff room chat in the day.

“We are happy, and we do not rush around with deep anxiety, unable to stop to eat or go to the bathroom. 

“The children are driven, creative and much more Westernised than I would have predicted. As I teach in KS2, most children’s level of spoken English is not an issue. But written English is something we will be working on for some time. 

“After work, I do not think about anything other than relaxing or socialising. Most teachers have cleaning staff, proxy chefs and anything you can imagine can be delivered to your door. I hate cooking for example so I have my mid-week healthy meals prepped for me by a local lady. On the weekends, we lounge around in local hotel pools/beaches or take trips to the north coast

“However, it’s not all perfect. As I live in Alexandria rather than Cairo, other expats are hard to come by so your social circle is often your work circle also.

“The concept of recycling is pretty much non-existent here too, which is not ideal if you want to do you bit for the environment.

“Lastly, and this one surely has its upsides, is the culture of ‘inshallah’. This term means ‘god permitting’ but essentially means ‘somewhere, somehow, somewhen’ in my personal translation. Now, when you’re trained to be a perfectionist and that no mistake goes unnoticed, it is hard to learn to take a laissez-faire attitude.

“In some moments it provides a lot of frustration, but in others, it brings a lot of bonding laughter amongst your team. ”

Carly Page is a freelance journalist