The Minister of Education Accompanies a Japanese Delegation from the Tokyo

Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, today, Monday, conducted an inspection visit to the Egyptian International Leadership Center for Empowering People with Special Needs in 10th of Ramadan City. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation from the Tokyo Prefectural Education Council in Japan.

The Minister was accompanied during the tour by Dr. Ahmed El-Mohammadi, Assistant Minister for Strategic Planning and Follow-up; Dr. Hala Abdel Salam, Head of the Central Administration for General Education; Dr. Hanem Ahmed, Advisor to the Minister for International Cooperation; Dr. Sahar El-Alfy, Director General of the General Administration of Special Education at the Ministry of Education; and Dr. Medhat Helal, Advisor to the Minister for Administrative Development.

The Japanese delegation included Mr. Kudo Tadahito, Director of International Affairs, and Messrs. Akatsu Kazuya, Mori Motokazu, Shimazu Satoshi, Shimamura Kazuki, and Nakamura Daisuke from the Tokyo Prefectural Education Council.

This visit comes within the framework of strengthening educational cooperation between the Arab Republic of Egypt and Japan, building on the positive results of Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif's visit to Tokyo, and enhancing cooperation and exchange of expertise in the field of supporting and empowering people with special needs. This reflects both sides' commitment to developing an inclusive education system and achieving equal educational opportunities.

The Minister and the accompanying Japanese delegation began their tour of the Egyptian International Leadership Center for Empowering People with Special Needs by inspecting the various clinic halls, which number 18, including 8 audiology clinics, 4 speech therapy clinics, and 6 functional behavioral halls. These clinics are equipped with the latest equipment in the world.

During the inspection tour, Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif and the Japanese delegation visited the hydrotherapy area within the Integrated Center for the Care of Children with Special Needs. The accompanying delegation also viewed the center's logistical structure and the schematic models (mock-ups) illustrating the design of the facilities, in addition to the rehabilitation rooms, laboratories, and the hotel floor designated for receiving parents during treatment sessions.

The inspection tour also included the clinics section, starting with the information storage and registration rooms for children, and moving on to the basic hearing testing and hearing aid testing clinics.

The inspection tour also included the assessment waiting area and the occupational therapy rooms, which focus on preparing children for normal interaction through balance and motor coordination exercises. They also viewed the sensory therapy rooms, motor function rehabilitation rooms, family counseling rooms, and cognitive behavioral therapy rooms.

The tour also included play and speech rooms, pronunciation tests, and rehabilitation for improving letter pronunciation and phoneme recognition. It also included specialized rooms for rehabilitation procedures, skill development programs, and units for dealing with children experiencing temper tantrums and agitation.

The Minister and the Japanese delegation also listened to a detailed explanation of the behavior analysis rooms, which are used to train children on daily habits using educational tools and games, as well as the art and music therapy rooms, which contribute to developing children's cognitive and expressive skills.

During the visit, Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif emphasized that the Egyptian International Center for Empowering People with Special Needs is one of the largest centers providing therapeutic and rehabilitation services to integrated students and people with special needs in Africa and the Arab world. He noted that the issue of people with special needs is a top priority for the political leadership.

The Minister emphasized that the Egyptian state places great importance on supporting people with special needs, emphasizing the importance of international partnerships in transferring and localizing successful experiences.

For their part, members of the Japanese delegation praised the center for the advanced and sophisticated level of therapeutic and rehabilitation services they witnessed for people with special needs. They commended the Egyptian state's commitment to empowering and integrating people with special needs into society and expressed their willingness to enhance future cooperation in this field.

It's worth noting that the Egyptian International Center for Empowerment of People with Special Needs was established in 10th of Ramadan City in 2019 under the direction of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. It was relaunched on January 12 with a new vision that aligns with international standards for the treatment and empowerment of people with special needs. The center is one of the largest rehabilitation centers for people with special needs in the Arab world and Africa, covering an area of ​​24,000 square meters, with green spaces comprising up to 70% of the total area. The building covers an area of ​​5,200,000 square meters and consists of three floors.

The center provides a wide range of high-quality services for children with special needs, providing comprehensive care for children and their families, as well as everything they need in one place to facilitate their lives and their families.