Minister of Education Discusses Education System Reform Efforts with Head of EU Delegation
Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, held a meeting on Tuesday with Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Arab Republic of Egypt, and her accompanying delegation, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in the field of education and technical education.
The meeting was attended by Ms. Alice Beslan, Head of the Economic Cooperation Team, and Ms. Ahlam Farouk, Director of TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) Projects, both from the EU delegation accompanying the Head of Delegation.
Also present from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs was Ambassador Eid Abdel Mohsen Shafei, Minister Plenipotentiary for European Affairs.
From the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, the meeting was attended by Dr. Ayman Bahaa El-Din, Deputy Minister; Dr. Amr Basila, Head of the Central Administration for Technical Education Development and Director of the Applied Technology Schools Operation and Management Unit; and Ambassador Yasser Othman, Advisor to the Minister for International Relations and Agreements.
During the meeting, Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif reviewed the comprehensive reform plan being implemented by the state to develop the education system in Egypt. He emphasized that recent years have witnessed a radical approach to addressing chronic crises that had persisted for decades, most notably overcrowding in classrooms, teacher shortages, and low student attendance rates in public schools.
The Minister explained that the Ministry, by effectively managing available resources, has succeeded in completely eliminating the problem of high student density, bringing the number of students per classroom down to fewer than 50 across the country, with a continued decline in class sizes expected.
He added that the Ministry is currently working to phase out the two-shift system in a number of schools, clarifying that the Ministry aims to eliminate the two-shift system entirely by 2027.
Regarding teachers, Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif confirmed that the shortage of teachers in core subjects has been addressed in all schools. Concerning school discipline, he explained that attendance rates have increased from 9% previously to 87% this academic year, after reaching 85% last year, with expectations of exceeding 90% next academic year.
The Minister also reviewed the Ministry's efforts in developing curricula, noting that 94 curricula have been developed, with an assessment booklet provided for each subject for the first time. This was achieved while maintaining the same international learning outcomes but with a simpler and more student-friendly teaching style.
In keeping with technological advancements, the Minister announced the introduction of programming and artificial intelligence as subjects for first-year secondary school students, in cooperation with Japan. He explained that Japan was chosen because it is a global leader in education and technology, and due to a shared strategic vision between the two countries for many years, coupled with rapid implementation and mutual commitment.
Regarding improving reading and writing skills, the Minister reviewed the Arabic language skills development program being implemented in cooperation with UNICEF to address students' reading and writing difficulties. He noted that the first two phases of the program have been implemented in 20 governorates, and preparations are underway for the third phase.
The Minister emphasized that the success of the reform depends on sound resource management alongside increased spending. He affirmed that improving teachers' salaries is a top priority for the Ministry, indicating that the Ministry has taken steps in this regard and continues its efforts to improve their conditions.
The Minister also addressed efforts to develop technical and technological education, emphasizing that this sector is one of the most important means of supporting the national economy and attracting investments. He highlighted the importance of developing technical and technological education and obtaining international accreditation for graduates, noting the success of partnerships in this model with several countries, such as Italy, and in cooperation with the private sector. This ensures the graduation of qualified personnel with internationally recognized certificates.
He explained that the goal of these partnerships is to provide diverse opportunities for graduates by ensuring their training according to internationally recognized standards. He affirmed Egypt's openness to partnerships with all countries to ensure the development of students' skills and capabilities in line with the demands of the global and local markets.
He added that the Ministry's international partnerships also focus on transferring technical expertise, training teachers, and building sustainable systems for auditing and quality assurance, while ensuring that educational outcomes align with international standards. He pointed out that this approach represents the primary objective of cooperation with international partners.
Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif expressed the Ministry's aspiration to expand cooperation with various European countries and benefit from their specialized expertise in different fields of technical education, particularly industry, agriculture, and hospitality. He emphasized that the Ministry is open to any serious cooperation based on knowledge transfer, quality assurance, and support for the technical education system according to a comprehensive and sustainable vision.
For her part, Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, Head of the European Union Delegation to the Arab Republic of Egypt, expressed the European Union's deep appreciation for the strategic partnership it shares with the Arab Republic of Egypt in the field of education. She affirmed the European Union's commitment to continuing and strengthening cooperation frameworks with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, and supporting its efforts to develop the education system, especially technical education and vocational training. This aims to contribute to improving the quality of the educational process, enhancing the alignment of its outcomes with labor market demands, and aligning with the Egyptian state's priorities in the field of sustainable development and human capacity building, through the exchange of expertise and the provision of technical support within a framework of effective partnership and constructive cooperation.