Minister of Education honors students who won the "ISEF" competition
Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, honored, in a celebration organized by the Ministry today in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the students who won at the national and international levels in the "ISEF" competition for science and engineering 2024.
The "ISEF" competition for science and engineering is one of the strongest international competitions in the field of science and engineering for researchers from high school students, and it depends on possessing scientific research skills to reach a new project that contributes to solving a problem in one of the scientific fields by following the scientific research methodology, and the winners are qualified to participate in the international competition in which more than 76 countries around the world participate.
In his speech during the celebration, Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education, expressed his happiness to participate today in this important celebration that embodies the spirit of excellence and creativity, to celebrate a distinguished elite of students who demonstrated their excellence in the International Science and Engineering Competition (ISEF) - the unlimited potential of Egyptian youth.
The Minister also expressed his deep pride in this promising group of Egyptian youth who represent the bright future of this country, and their success reflects not only their dedication and creativity, but also the steadfast commitment of the Egyptian leadership to promoting excellence in education.
The Minister added that this celebration confirms the unwavering support of the political leadership and its commitment to enhancing cooperation with both national and international partners, and these efforts aim to achieve comprehensive development in the pre-university education system and raise its quality to international standards.
The Minister appreciated the efforts of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) - leadership and team for its valuable contributions to the pre-university education sector, and its continuous support for schools for excellence in science and technology (STEM), in addition to its efforts in developing students’ skills in preparation for the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which is essential to achieving this success.
The Minister continued, stressing that this remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the combined efforts of families, schools, teachers, supervisors, and institutions, as they together created an environment that promotes growth, learning, and creativity.
The Minister referred to the directives of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, where His Excellency gave priority to investing in human capital and improving educational services, especially for talented and outstanding students. In this context, the presidential initiative "A New Beginning for Building the Egyptian Person" was launched, aiming to enhance investment in human capital through a work program targeting human development, consolidating the Egyptian identity and enhancing efforts, coordination and integration between various state agencies and institutions.
The Minister also stressed that the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, for its part, pays great attention to discovering and supporting talents and innovators in the academic, scientific and sports fields. We are committed to sponsoring them and providing them with the necessary resources to achieve success so that they become creative and capable leaders in the future.
The Minister explained that the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is one of the most prestigious international competitions in science and engineering at the pre-university education stage. It is a global forum that celebrates innovation and scientific creativity, and provides students with opportunities for exploration, discovery, and innovation. Through participation, students acquire valuable skills in the fields of scientific research, critical thinking, and problem solving, while facing pressing scientific challenges. The competition includes various scientific fields, including but not limited to behavioral and social sciences, chemistry, physics, microbiology, environmental engineering, astronomy, animal sciences, mathematics, and technology. It provides students with a platform to showcase their ideas and projects on the global stage, and contributes to promoting a culture of innovation and excellence.
The Minister addressed a message to the winning students in the competition, saying: "You are the future of Egypt, and your outstanding performance in the (ISEF) competition is evidence of your hard work, passion for scientific research, and dedication. Therefore, I encourage you to continue striving for excellence, and to invest your success today as a starting point for achieving greater achievements. Remember that the future is ahead of you, and education is the most powerful tool for shaping it."
At the end of his speech, the Minister extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who contributed to the students’ victory in this global competition, to the parents who supported and encouraged their children, to the teachers and coaches who guided them, and to the organizers and coordinators of this event, saying: “Your dedication was exemplary. Together, we are building a brighter future for Egypt, a future characterized by innovation, creativity and excellence. Let us continue to work hand in hand to support the talents of our youth and pave the way for their success.”
In her speech, Dr. Marisol Perez, Deputy Mission Director of the USAID Mission in Egypt, welcomed Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif, Professor Dr. Mustafa Refaat, and the distinguished officials from university presidents, school principals, dedicated teachers, and talented students who represented Egypt in this year’s International Science and Engineering Fair.
Marsol confirmed that these students representing Egypt competed with other young scientists from 70 countries and won an unprecedented twelve major awards, expressing her pride in these brilliant young people.
She added that the amazing projects developed by these students include a mobile phone application that enables early screening for dyslexia in Arabic-speaking children, and an innovative device to support people with limited hand movement to enable them to interact with machines using head movements.