The Ministers of Education and Planning witness the launch of the second phase of the International Schools of Applied Technology
Dr. Reda Hegazy, Minister of Education and Technical Education, and Dr. Hala Al-Saeed, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, witnessed this evening the signing of five new agreements of understanding between the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and the Egypt Manpower Project funded by USAID and private sector companies. To establish five international schools of applied technology in four governorates: Qalyubia, Menoufia, Qena, and Giza.
This came in the presence of Marguerite Sancho, Deputy Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Egypt, Dr. Mohamed Megahed, Deputy Minister of Education for Technical Education Affairs, Dr. Sherine Hamdy, Advisor to the Minister for Administrative Development, and Supervisor of the Central Administration for the Affairs of the Minister’s Office, and Dr. Amr Busailah. Head of the Central Administration for the Development of Technical Education, Director of the Operation and Management Unit of Applied Technology Schools, Dr. Muhammad Emara, Head of the Central Administration for Technical Education Schools, Dr. Ahmed El-Ashmawy, Member of the Advisory Council for the Development of Technical Education, Muhammad Muhammad Al-Khashin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Evergrow for Specialized Fertilizers, and Dr. Ahmed Khalifa, Executive Director and Managing Director of CFC Feed and Chemicals Company, Mohamed Farouk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mobika Company, Dr. Mona Rabat, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mounir Armanios Foundation for Development, and Major General Abu Bakr El Gendy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mountain View Foundation.
In his speech, Dr. Reda Hegazy, Minister of Education and Technical Education, expressed his pride in participating today in this celebration, which represents one of the important events that expresses the extent of the Egyptian state's interest in technical education, that education for which an entire article has been allocated in the Egyptian constitution, confirming the commitment of the Egyptian state to encourage it. And developing it, and expanding its programs, in accordance with international quality standards, and believing that building the Egyptian person is the highest goal, indicating that the International Schools of Applied Technology achieve Egypt’s vision 2030 on the ground through students who possess high competencies and capabilities.
The Minister of Education emphasized the continuous support provided by the President of the Republic to education in general, and to technical education in particular, and his keenness to develop the technical education system in Egypt according to a participatory vision that faces the challenges of reality and achieves future aspirations, through cooperation between all state institutions and companies. The private sector, civil society organizations, and international development institutions.
Dr. Reda Hegazy said: “The system for modernizing technical education in the new republic aims primarily to create qualified technical cadres capable of running the paths of regional and global competitiveness, and this system that is being consolidated and developed requires concerted efforts, stressing that we are able to overcome all challenges; Together, a bright future for our daughters and our sons.
The Minister of Education stated that the technical education system aims to shift towards a better technical education that meets the needs of the labor market with the best international quality standards, through a sustainable approach, based on five axes: improving the quality of technical education, transforming school curricula into curricula based on competencies methodology and improving skills. Teachers through training and qualification, and the participation of business owners in developing technical education and changing the stereotype of technical education.
Dr. Reda Hegazy pointed out that applied technology schools are an important model that embodies the success of that system in one entity, where business institutions and the private sector contribute as an active participant in the management and operation of technical schools in new disciplines based on the methodology of competencies with the highest quality standards, through distinguished teachers and competencies of Those with experience to graduate technical cadres that meet the needs of the local, regional and international labor market, which is one of the most important models that change the mental image of technical education.
Dr. Reda Hegazy said: "The Ministry of Education and Technical Education is seeking to expand the International Schools of Applied Technology project with neighboring countries," noting that there is a demand from many countries for Egyptian technical cadres.
The Minister of Education thanked the success partners from the international agencies that supported the ministry's directions in contributing to the upgrading and development of this model, and singled out the mention of the United States Agency for International Development, represented by the Workforce Egypt project, which is establishing (10) international schools for applied technology, the latest of which is The five schools that we celebrate today by signing their memorandums of understanding with success partners from the private sector, and the establishment of the first international free schools in the field of technical education in the Middle East.
Dr. Reda Hegazy continued: “Last week, I was pleased to participate in the opening of the Fathallah School in Alexandria, which witnessed the first fruits of this model embodied in one hundred students. The hands of distinguished teachers who were carefully selected through innovative presentation and communication skills, and I felt for myself how their technical prowess was mixed with their ability to use modern technology and advanced devices and their mastery of the language, all within the framework of commitment to quality standards, occupational health and safety,” indicating that these students are enrolled in schools They represent the first building block for creating a new future for technical education.
Dr. Reda Hegazy also extended his thanks and gratitude to the Egyptian private sector, the engine of economic development, which does not spare the effort, money or experience of the Egyptian state in a sustainable partnership. To operate and manage the second group of International Schools of Applied Technology in a distinguished partnership that reflects the deep belief of this sector in investing in human resources.
The Minister also extended his sincere thanks to all concerned national institutions and international organizations for their sincere efforts in supporting the various initiatives of the Ministry, and contributing to creating successful partnerships that work on writing more success stories and providing more distinguished educational services for our students.
For her part, Dr. Hala Al-Saeed, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, confirmed that the state is working in true partnership on the ground with the private sector, with the aim of arming Egyptian youth and society with the skills necessary for future jobs, as this sector occupies 80% of the Egyptian workforce, so it is considered an essential partner in the development process.
Al-Said referred to the efforts of the Egyptian state to develop the educational process and the cooperation of all state institutions to improve the quality of the educational process, pointing to the national plan for structural reforms launched by the Egyptian state in 2020, as a continuation of the economic reform program that was launched in 2016, explaining that the national plan for structural reforms has Five basic axes, including the axis of the efficiency of the Egyptian labor market, where through this axis work is done to reduce the gap between the outputs of the educational process and the requirements of the labor market, by working to increase the inter-disciplines such as regional planning, in addition to the traditional majors in Egyptian universities. This is in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Dr. Hala Al-Said added that the Ministry of Planning, in cooperation with the Egypt Workforce Project, is preparing the institutional framework for the Sectoral Skills Council, which will be fully led by the private sector, in addition to what the Ministry is doing through the Egyptian Authority for Quality Assurance and converting all curricula into a competencies system, which is in line with State plan and projects to improve the quality of the educational process.
Dr. Hala Al-Said highlighted the expansion of the involvement of the private sector in investment in the education sector, through coordination with the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, where lands and unused state-owned assets are made available to the private sector, to benefit from them in building schools, which contributes to raising the competitiveness of the education sector. Al-Masry, referring to the Education Egypt platform, which was implemented through a strategic partnership with the private sector, and a cooperation agreement was signed with one of the main developers of educational content in Egypt, to provide educational services to millions of Egyptian students, from kindergarten to secondary school, by benefiting from With the current wide range of technological developments available globally; With the aim of creating a diverse and attractive educational content to meet the needs of the middle and low-income segment in all Egyptian governorates.
Al-Saeed concluded her speech by stressing that the applied technology schools will have a major role in preparing graduates for the skills and specializations required in the labor market, as well as developing the skills of graduates to suit new jobs in the future, adding that the labor market is dynamic and developing very significantly, and such a type of school will be He has the flexibility and ability to keep pace with the labor market, noting that the Egyptian state aims to develop the Egyptian education sector and make it attractive to local and foreign investments, by mobilizing all the energies and resources available to develop the technical and vocational education system, raise the efficiency of the labor market and stimulate community participation in which the role of youth and women is prominent. She affirmed that the country welcomes all development partnerships that enhance efforts to develop skills, economic empowerment, and comprehensive and sustainable development.
Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation, said, in a recorded speech broadcast during the ceremony, that these efforts come in light of the state's priorities to support the development of technical education and provide qualified and trai
Al-Mashat appreciated the results of the Egypt Workforce Project in its first phase, which contributed to the development of curricula in technical education schools, the establishment of an "innovative technician" competition, spreading the culture of innovation in technical education schools and strengthening efforts to create job opportunities, stressing the importance of the long-term partnership between the Republic of Egypt. Arabia and the United States of America, which over more than 4 decades resulted in many constructive partnerships to support development efforts and meet the country's priorities in various fields, noting the government's keenness to continue and strengthen this partnership to include more areas of cooperation of common interest.
Marguerite Sancho, Deputy Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), also expressed her happiness at announcing the signing of the five memorandums of understanding for the International Schools of Applied Technology, which is an important step towards further developing the technical education system in Egypt, and her pride in the partnership of the United States of America with the Egyptian government in The education sector, based on cooperation in the field of technical education, which is represented in the international schools of applied technology, in addition to contributing with Egypt in implementing its new national strategy for higher education and scientific research 2030.
Sancho added that the International Schools of Applied Technology respond to the demand of employers and the needs of the labor market, adhere to internationally recognized standards, and provide job opportunities on a large scale for Egyptian youth. Through the Egypt Workforce Project, to provide education and training to all students of International Schools of Applied Technology without regard to gender or economic background.
Dr. Amr Basila, Head of the Central Administration for the Development of Technical Education, and Director of the Applied Technology Schools Operation and Management Unit, presented a presentation on the stages of the establishment of applied technology schools, and its vision in building skills to build a better future for our students who graduate from these schools.
Mohamed Fawzi, Deputy Director of the Egypt Workforce Project, said: “The partnership depends on the idea of the private sector, its requirements, the required technical specifications, and the maximization of resources, noting that the International Schools of Applied Technology are characterized by being smart and digital schools that keep pace with the latest technological developments, in addition to being green schools.” Environmentally friendly, and committed to implementing sustainable development standards.
For his part, Major General Abu Bakr El-Gendy, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mountain View Foundation for Development, stressed the importance of the cooperation protocol that was signed with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and the Egypt Manpower Project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which aims to establish the Mountain View International School of Applied Technology. As of the beginning of the academic year 2023/2024, adding that this cooperation comes within the framework of the vision of the Mountain View Development Foundation, which was established by the Mountain View Real Estate Investment Company to be its community arm to develop technical labor skills through the latest systems that apply international standards to meet the needs of the labor market in terms of employment. trained.
Mrs. Mona Rabat Armanios, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the IFA Group of Companies, said: "It is intended to start studies at the IFA International School of Applied Technology, during the next academic year 2023/2024, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, and the US Agency for International Development, in the belief of The company stressed the need to develop the technical education system in accordance with international quality standards, adding that the school will be commensurate with the needs of the labor market, and support increasing competitiveness in the economic fields, to achieve the goals of sustainable development, and to create highly trained technical cadres in the fields of software, operation and maintenance of machines.
In a related context, Eng. Mohamed Farouk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mobica, stressed the importance of investing in the human element, pointing out that one of the industry’s problems is finding qualified technical cadres to operate investments and based on political trends to develop technical education and the effective initiative of the Egypt Workforce Project. Mobika Company decided to participate in this national project out of its belief in the role of the private sector in the work of economic and human development that benefits the community, and he added that Mobika International School of Applied Technology will work to contribute to directing human energies and cadres to real job opportunities guaranteed by industrial companies in the field of school specialization represented in Robotics and CNC machines.
Dr. Ahmed Khalifa, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Evergrow CFC Group for Fertilizers and Chemicals, indicated that, in the interest of the alliance to establish the foundations of sustainable development and institutional work, two applied schools have been contributed to, namely the Evergrow International School for Applied Technology in Sadat City, Menoufia Governorate, and the second is a school CFC International for Applied Technology in Nagaa Hammadi, Qena Governorate, explaining that studies will begin in September of this year. To achieve optimal use of production inputs and attract new investments as a result of the availability of qualified technical personnel.
During the ceremony, 5 memorandums of understanding were signed. To launch 5 international schools of applied technology, namely Evergro International School of Applied Technology, specialized in operating and maintaining advanced heavy industry equipment, in Qalyubia Governorate, CFC International School of Applied Technology, specialized in operating and maintaining advanced heavy industry equipment, in Qena Governorate, and Mobika International School of Applied Technology, specialized in Operation of CFC machines and robots, in Giza Governorate, Eva International School of Applied Technology, specialized in the fields of operation and maintenance of pharmaceutical and food industry equipment, and software development in Giza Governorate, and Mountain View International School of Applied Technology, specialized in facility management technology, in Qalyubia Governorate.