Of the 1.72 million students enrolled in Egyptian universities and higher
institutes in 2000/01, about 44 per cent were women (Ministry of Informa-
tion 2002a). In 1999/2000 the technical (i.e. vocational) secondary schools had
1.91 million full-time students, 46 per cent of whom were female. As regards
the general schools there were 7.93 million pupils in primary schools, 4.66
million in preparatory schools and 1.31 million in secondary schools; of the
latter about 47 per cent were girls (CAPMAS 2001b: 175ff ). Since the 1980s
the percentage of female pupils and students has increased steadily, since
many girls today try to qualify for later employment. From 1980 to 1997 the
enrolment ratio improved from 72 to 95 per cent of the relevant groups