The Ministry of Education launches an awareness campaign in cooperation with the British Council

The Ministry of Education and Technical Education launched today an awareness campaign entitled "School is a place for all of us", in cooperation with the British Council in Egypt and UNICEF; with the aim of highlighting the importance of integrating students with special educational needs and disabilities into Egyptian integration schools.

This campaign comes in line with the Ministry's vision regarding inclusive education in all schools, and its commitment to introducing the integration system into education systems. The campaign is also consistent with Egypt's Vision 2030 to provide fair and high-quality education and training opportunities, and to consolidate the inclusiveness of education on a broader scale, in addition to facilitating the full societal integration of these students, ensuring equality in access to education and participation, in addition to promoting positive attitudes and behaviors towards inclusive education, by encouraging understanding and acceptance of diverse learning needs.

The British Council also aims through the campaign to enhance the positive image of students with special educational needs and disabilities, and gain more support towards them.

Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, stated that the Egyptian state places people with special needs at the top of its priorities, in implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic, and in line with Egypt's Vision 2030 to provide education and training for all with high quality without discrimination. The Ministry of Education and Technical Education also seeks to change society's view of our children with special abilities; and transform them into a productive and influential force in society. Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif added that the Ministry is working to improve the educational opportunities provided to children with various disabilities and help them adapt to society by integrating them into schools and improving the quality of education provided to them. In this context, the Ministry has made significant efforts to achieve educational integration in schools through several axes, namely increasing the number of students with special needs in integration schools. Ministerial Resolution No. (252) of 2017 was also issued, which stipulates that all schools are inclusive, to facilitate matters for our children with disabilities and their parents. The Ministry has also held specialized and qualitative training for teachers on the methods of the integration system and dealing with integrated students. Curricula for people with special needs have also been developed and adapted to integration students in light of the new education system, in addition to equipping and developing schools and providing technological support to inclusive schools. The Ministry also cooperates with development partners by signing protocols with a number of ministries, the most prestigious Egyptian universities and civil society organizations, and establishing partnerships with foreign and local organizations to provide technological support to inclusive schools and qualify educational cadres. Mark Howard, Director of the British Council in Egypt, said: “Since the British Council began working in Egypt in 1938, we have reached thousands of students every year through our education partners. Our ongoing partnership with the Ministry of Education in Egypt is a testament to our long-term success. Collaborating with the Ministry of Education in Egypt brings together the experience, knowledge and expertise of Egypt and the UK to do the best possible job. I hope that this campaign will raise awareness nationwide about the importance of integrating students with special educational needs and disabilities into Egyptian inclusive schools. By engaging everyone in this discussion, we learn from each other, support students in getting a good education, and ensure that there is a place for every student in schools.”

The “School is a Place for All of Us” awareness campaign seeks to stimulate conversations about the inclusion of students with special educational needs and disabilities, a pressing issue that involves a wide range of groups, including teachers, the school community, parents and society at large, with the aim of achieving educational integration in Egyptian schools by engaging all students. This awareness campaign is launched in line with the vision of the Ministry of Education, and aims to employ one of the educational opportunities of the British Council within the framework of the Schools Connect programme, which aims to cooperate with educational policy makers on developing the vision and action plan for inclusive schools, in addition to building the capacity of local coordinators and school leaders on systems and policies for inclusion, and improving learning outcomes for students.