Cooperation Protocol between the Ministry of Education and the National Elections Authority
Within the framework of the ongoing efforts to promote democratic participation and develop electoral awareness among citizens, and the importance of cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and the National Elections Authority to activate voter awareness and education programs, Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education, signed a cooperation protocol with Counselor Hazem Badawi, Vice President of the Court of Cassation and Head of the National Elections Authority, with the aim of promoting the culture of participation in elections and referendums among students, teachers and parents.
During the signing ceremony, Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif thanked the National Elections Authority for its cooperation through this initiative in the field of national and democratic work that aims to enhance students' awareness of the meaning of democracy and elections, stressing the need to exert all possible efforts to make this cooperation bear fruit.
The Minister added that this cooperation aims to increase electoral awareness and enhance democratic practice among students, teachers and parents, which contributes to building a bright and sustainable future for all citizens of the country, adding that teachers will be taught how to enhance students' critical thinking skills, which will enable them to better understand their rights and how to claim them, and create an environment that allows students to express their opinions and discuss their political rights issues, in addition to providing platforms that allow teachers to exchange experiences and good practices in educating students about their rights, which helps build an educational community full of good discussion about students' rights.
The Minister continued that work will be done to motivate and encourage teachers to make students exercise their political rights, such as participating in elections, which enhances understanding and appreciation of their rights, and to educate and educate students of all ages about their political rights by studying the possibility of including direct topics of political rights in school curricula in a manner that is appropriate for students' ages, and linking discussions to important local issues.
For his part, Counselor Hazem Badawi, Vice President of the Court of Cassation and Chairman of the National Elections Authority, expressed his happiness at signing this protocol, which confirms the establishment of a strategic partnership to enhance the dissemination of electoral culture among the youth, considering them the pillar of the nation and the pillar of the future, in the belief that knowledge is the foundation upon which societies are built and is the most powerful weapon to confront challenges, stressing that preparing a generation aware of its electoral rights and duties is a national responsibility no less important than any other challenge we face. Counselor Hazem Badawi added that the goal is not just a voter who participates in voting, but a citizen who realizes that his vote is the cornerstone of the edifice of democracy and that his free choice is the pillar on which a just and stable state is built, pointing out that the school is the first place to shape human awareness, explaining that the protocol aims to cooperate with the Ministry of Education to provide awareness and training materials on the importance of participating in elections and organizing a simulation of the electoral process within schools and promoting a culture of dialogue and understanding among students, as well as educating parents politically and motivating them to open dialogues with their children about elections and the importance of voting. Teachers will also be involved in supporting these efforts by integrating the concepts of active citizenship into the curricula, which contributes to building a generation aware of the issues of the homeland and participating in decision-making.
Counselor Hazem Badawi thanked Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif for his support for the National Elections Authority and everyone who contributed to this important work, which represents the cornerstone of a generation building its awareness and culture.
The National Elections Authority was represented by Judge Ahmed Bandari, Executive Director of the National Elections Authority, Judge Dr. Mahmoud Rashid, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Authority, Judge Mohsen Dardiri, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Authority, Judge Hani Gad Allah, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Authority, Judge Shady Riad, Judge Sherif Siddiq, and Major General Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim, Deputy Executive Director of the National Elections Authority.
From the Ministry of Education, Dr. Ahmed Daher, Deputy Minister, Ms. Sherine Hamdy, Advisor to the Minister for International Relations and Agreements, Dr. Akram Hassan, Head of the Central Administration for Curriculum Development, Dr. Iman Hassan, Head of the Central Administration for Student Activities, Ms. Nadia Abdullah, Supervisor of the Central Administration for Teachers' Affairs, and Ms. Hala Abdel Salam, Head of the Central Administration for General Education attended.