By: Rahma Diaa As of Wednesday, more than 16,000 Facebook users have joined the “Egyptian mothers’ revolt against curricula” page, banding together in solidarity against the “outdated” school curricula provided by the Ministry of Education and taught to their children. The Facebook page was created in mid-March. Its members complain that the curricula push their children to memorize information and discourage research and innovation. Toward this end, members also have parallel activities outside of the social media realm. A segment of them have called for boycotting the education ministry by having children stay at home for two weeks. There are also calls for organizing a protest by mothers outside the ministry’s headquarters. The “trigger of the [mothers’] revolt” was the curriculum taught to sixth grade elementary students, according to Naglaa Fathallah. She told Aswat Masriya that curricula are too dense, “huge.” In the history subject alone, she added, students are required to learn about Egypt’s history from Mehmet Ali Pasha’s era through the 2011 uprising and its aftermath. The 2011 uprising saw the ouster of Hosni Mubarak after he ruled the country for 30 years. Fathallah has two children: One in sixth grade,…
