Minister of Education Discusses Education System Development Plans with World Bank
Mr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, received Mr. Stefan Gembert, the World Bank's Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen, Djibouti, the Middle East and North Africa region, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, today. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation and partnership programs that support education development plans in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The World Bank delegation included Ms. Veronica Gregera, Senior Education and Training Specialist for the Middle East and North Africa; Ms. Miral Shehata, an economist in the Education Practices sector for the Middle East and North Africa; Mr. Amr El-Shawarby, an economist working with the World Bank Group; and Mr. Ahmed Hamed, a senior economist with the World Bank Group.
Also participating in the meeting from the Ministry of Education were Dr. Ayman Bahaa, Deputy Minister; Ambassador Yasser Othman, Advisor to the Minister for International Relations and Agreements; and Mr. Mohamed Zayed, representative of the Ministry's International Cooperation Unit.
At the start of the meeting, the Minister affirmed that the Ministry had successfully overcome many challenges hindering educational development during the past and current academic years. Chief among these was reducing class sizes to fewer than 50 students, with ongoing efforts to reach an average of 31 students per class by 2027. This includes continuing the construction of new schools according to an annual plan, as well as addressing the shortage of teachers in core subjects across the country.
Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif then outlined the Ministry's efforts to enhance the quality of education. He noted the development of 94 curricula based on internationally recognized academic standards, in addition to collaboration with Japan on developing the first-grade mathematics curriculum and integrating programming and artificial intelligence through the Japanese "Kiryo" platform. He explained that approximately 832,000 students, representing the total number of first-year secondary students, had registered on the platform, and that nearly 236,000 students had completed the entire curriculum.
During the meeting, the Minister also presented the National Program for Developing Reading and Writing Skills among Primary School Students. This program represents a national priority for raising the quality of learning in the early grades. The second phase of the program was recently launched, targeting approximately half a million students from grades three to six in ten governorates. This phase builds upon the success achieved in the first phase, which was also implemented in ten governorates and contributed to improving students' language skills and enhancing their ability to express themselves and comprehend reading. The Minister noted that the program is part of the state's efforts to consolidate Egyptian linguistic and cultural identity.
Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif also explained that the Ministry is proceeding with its educational infrastructure plans to completely eliminate the two-shift system within two years, alongside a comprehensive development plan to improve school efficiency.
The Minister further mentioned the establishment of a Quality Support and Measurement Unit, comprising two thousand educational experts, which plays a pivotal role in monitoring performance within schools through clear evaluation and quality assurance mechanisms.
The Minister also discussed the Egyptian Baccalaureate system, highlighting the multiple examination opportunities and diverse pathways it offers to suit students' aptitudes and abilities. He noted that this system eliminates the single-opportunity exam in the general secondary education system.
The meeting also included a review of the Ministry's efforts to develop the technical education system by expanding the number of applied technology schools and linking studies with practical training through partnerships with the private sector. Furthermore, the Minister mentioned the signing of international partnerships to award graduates internationally recognized certificates, granting them job opportunities in both the local and international markets. He also referred to the signing of a cooperation protocol with…