Education as a Key Focus for Sustainable Development, Says Minister

Minister of Education Receives French Ambassador in Cairo.

Mohamed Abdel Latif, Egypt’s Minister of Education and Technical Education, welcomed the French Ambassador to Egypt, Eric Chauvillier, along with his accompanying delegation to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in technical education and vocational training, as well as support joint educational projects between the two countries.

During the meeting, Minister Abdel Latif emphasized Egypt’s significant commitment to developing its technical education system as a crucial pillar for achieving sustainable development. He noted that the ministry continues its efforts to improve the quality of technical education by directly linking it to local and international labor market needs through international partnerships and collaboration with the private sector. This approach aims to prepare graduates equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to rapid changes across various economic sectors.

The minister highlighted fruitful cooperation with Italy in developing technical education, which has led to the launch of 100 applied technology schools starting next academic year. These schools will focus on various specializations in partnership with the industrial sector, contributing to the preparation of qualified technical personnel that meet local and international labor market demands.

Furthermore, he expressed the ministry’s desire to strengthen collaboration with France in developing technical education programs according to French standards. This includes incorporating French language instruction into these programs, enhancing students’ competencies and preparing them for labor market requirements. The minister reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to expanding international partnerships in technical education, enabling students to obtain internationally recognized qualifications that enhance their employment opportunities and competitiveness in local, regional, and international job markets.

He also pointed out the importance of collaborating with France on several strategic specializations within technical education, particularly agriculture, hospitality, and tourism. This collaboration aims to support the preparation of highly qualified technical personnel who possess skills aligned with the latest international standards and can meet the needs of various productive sectors.

Additionally, Minister Abdel Latif reviewed recent developments in curriculum reforms across various educational levels as part of a series of reform measures implemented over recent months. These developments were presented by United Nations agencies during the “Envisioning Egypt’s Future in Education” conference. He mentioned signing a cooperation agreement with the International Baccalaureate Organization to review educational frameworks and assessment methods used in several developed textbooks within Egypt’s baccalaureate system.

In response, Ambassador Chauvillier expressed appreciation for the progress seen in Egypt’s technical education system over recent years. He affirmed France’s commitment to continuing support for cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education while building on achieved successes to strengthen partnerships between both countries across various educational fields.

The ambassador also praised findings from a study on educational reform efforts presented by UNICEF during the “Envisioning Egypt’s Future in Education” conference. He noted that this international recognition reflects substantial efforts made over recent years to enhance the educational system.

Moreover, he congratulated Minister Abdel Latif on the success of the inaugural Mediterranean Technical and Vocational Education Forum recently hosted by Egypt, which saw participation from ministers and representatives from 13 Mediterranean countries. He commended the forum’s outcomes and its productive discussions that contributed to regional cooperation and knowledge exchange in technical education and vocational training.

The meeting concluded with a review of mechanisms for future cooperation aimed at supporting efforts to develop technical education while exploring avenues for expanding joint educational projects between both sides.

Attending from the French side were David Sadoulis, Cultural Cooperation Advisor at the French Embassy and Director of the French Institute in Egypt; Daniel Renaud, Educational Cooperation Attaché; and Clémence Vidal de la Plache, Director of French Development Agency. Representing Egypt’s Ministry of Education were Yasser Osman, International Relations Advisor; Dr. Amr Basila, Head of Central Administration for Technical Education Development; and Director of Applied Technology Schools Management Unit.