In Schooling the Nation, Hania Sobhy examines Egypt's educational landscape to uncover its complex dynamics. The core premise of the author is that nationalist and Islamist narratives have a pervasive impact in educational discourse, with implications for national identity, citizenship, and societal standards. Through detailed analysis of textbooks, she illustrates how these narratives legitimize Islamist trends while avoiding discussions on political repression and societal inequalities.

The book's initial two chapters explore diverse educational themes, including the politicization of education, the influence of Islamist groups, and research challenges. Additionally, it delves into socioeconomic factors, differences between public and private schools, and the impact of urbanization on education. In Chapter 3, she highlights the increasing reliance on private tutoring, impacting teaching quality and academic outcomes, while Chapter 4 addresses gendered noncompliance and discipline breakdown within societal norms and institutional responses. Next, she discusses violent punishment in schools as a symptom of broader societal issues such as poverty and gender norms. The text observes a recurring pattern across Chapters 5 and 6, where textbooks discuss citizenship, national belonging, and piety, often overshadowing citizenship's entitlement to