The Minister of Education participates in the celebration of Ain Shams University receiving the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy 2021
Today, Dr. Tarek Shawky, Minister of Education and Technical Education, participated in the celebration of Ain Shams University receiving the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy 2021, for organizing online literacy classes for rural areas in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The award was received by Dr. Mahmoud El-Matini, President of Ain Shams University, in the presence of Dr. Ghada Abdel Bary, Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, Dr. Nizar Hassan, Acting Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Science in the Arab Countries, Vice Presidents of the University, and the Council of Ain Shams University, and Dr. Ashour Omary, President General Authority for Adult Education.
Dr. Tarek Shawky welcomed the attendees, expressing his happiness to participate in this conference on the occasion of Egypt's winning of the UNESCO Prize in Literacy 2021; For the success of her experience in adult education as a new achievement in the new republic under the presidency of the President of the Republic.
The Minister stressed that the existing cooperation between the Ministry and UNESCO stems from five strategies, which are developing the capacities of member states with regard to public policies, program implementation and literacy rate assessments, expanding the scope of literacy activities for girls and women, and strengthening the methods for technically implementing literacy programs, using technology in Information and communication, broadening knowledge and processes of monitoring and evaluation, strategy to promote literacy on the global agenda and ensuring synergies of various activities such as multilateral partnerships and networks.
He continued, "We aim for Egypt to be free of illiteracy before 2030, and free of those who hold diplomas and are not educated," noting that the ministry went to the poorest villages and border governorates to declare them free of illiteracy as soon as possible.
The minister added that serious communication was made with governmental and civil society bodies, and protocols were signed with many parties, especially universities, including Ain Shams University, for the participation of its students in eradicating illiteracy, and the ministry has formed many partnerships, including with the Ministry of Social Solidarity through a project. No illiteracy with solidarity” and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The minister stressed that Egypt's winning of the UNESCO Prize in Literacy does not mean that we do not have illiteracy, pointing out that competition was held with 172 countries and the great cooperation between state institutions had a major role in bringing about a major boom in the numbers of those free of illiteracy.
Dr. Tariq Shawky explained that the adult education program pursued by the Ministry is not limited to teaching the principles of reading and writing only, but rather works to form the mind and conscience of the free from illiteracy, and to give him the principles of citizenship, and to develop his abilities for self-learning and knowledge acquisition, in addition to providing medical advantages and professional qualification. On the crafts and industries through the multiple partnerships carried out by the Ministry.
He pointed out that in cooperation with the presidential initiative "A Dignified Life", the ministry aimed to eradicate illiteracy of 160,000 people in the villages in which the project is being implemented. With the aim of declaring these villages free of illiteracy during the initiative period.
In his speech, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Matini, President of Ain Shams University, expressed his happiness with the efforts made by the university’s people to contribute to eradicating the illiteracy of members of the Egyptian society in cooperation with the General Authority for Adult Education as a strategic partner in this success, noting that the efforts of Ain Shams University in the field of literacy Extended over the years in cooperation with many parties, and it was intensified starting in 2019, when the University Council issued a decision obligating students of 7 theoretical colleges to eradicate the illiteracy of one citizen during the school year as a prerequisite for obtaining a graduation certificate, ending with the literacy of 4 citizens until graduation in exchange for A number of advantages, chief among which is the granting of 250 pounds to eradicate the illiteracy of one citizen.
He added that the student who is able to eradicate illiteracy with more than (4) students, the university will cover his tuition fees, pointing out that there is continuous follow-up by the deans of the faculties, noting that national institutions also contributed to participating in this issue and we succeeded in remote areas.
Prof. Dr. Mahmo El-Matini stressed that the unprecedented development that the new republic is witnessing in the field of education, roads, bridges and in various fields requires eradicating illiteracy to reap the fruits of these achievements, praising the commendable competition between Egyptian universities in participating in the literacy initiative.
Al-Matini added that the Corona pandemic had a positive role in accelerating the pace of digital transformation and the use of educational platforms, as technology was relied on to eradicate illiteracy in remote areas.
Regarding the convoys carried out by the university, he pointed out that the convoys carried out by the university over the past 4 years have been intensified, locations are carefully identified and special medical services are provided in remote governorates, in addition to literacy activities and teaching simple crafts and various skills.
Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Matini concluded his speech by emphasizing that the student is the true hero of this achievement, with the support of the university administration.
Ms. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO, in a recorded speech, congratulated Ain Shams University for receiving the award, noting that this award sheds light on comprehensive distance learning and digital literacy, saying: "The Corona pandemic caused the most disturbances that occurred In education throughout history, which affected more than 1.6 billion people in more than 190 countries in the past year, which emphasized the importance of literacy and narrowing the digital divide.
Dr. Ghada Abdel Bari, Secretary-General of the Egyptian National Committee for UNESCO, said that this celebration is to highlight the importance of eradicating illiteracy for individuals and societies, and the need to make more efforts to reach illiteracy-free societies, and that are more literate, and its impact extends to the rest of the components of society, and is reflected negatively. On productive work capacity, and the level of economic growth.
During his speech, Dr. Ashour Omary, President of the General Authority for Adult Education, reviewed the authority's efforts in networking with Egyptian universities to confront the issue of illiteracy.
During the ceremony, the UNESCO (Confucius) medal and diploma for literacy for the year 2021 were awarded to Ain Shams University, and the contributions of the members of the award committee and the trained students were honored, within the framework of the activities of the World Literacy Day 2021, "Literacy for a human-centered recovery... Narrowing the digital divide." .
It is worth noting that this award was established in 2005 and is sponsored by the People's Republic of China. It is concerned with programs that encourage adult literacy, especially in rural areas and out-of-school youth, especially girls and women. These awards are given to governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution. In strengthening the efforts made and in appreciation of their continued efforts in the field of literacy.