Mubarak calls for new education policies to cope with labor market
Egypt, Education, 7/4/2002

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak discussed at a ministerial meeting Wednesday a national program to modernise education which is the basis of human development.

Minister of Information Safwat Al Sherif said that President Mubarak will hold another meeting at a later date to following discussions on education policies in Egypt.

Eleven meetings have been held at the level of education experts which discussed international studies on education in Egypt, including a study drawn up by UNESCO.

Education policies were also discussed at eight consecutive meetings held by Prime Minister Atef Ebeid with the ministers concerned and experts and chairmen of specialised committees at the People's Assembly, the Shura Council and the National Democratic Party.

President Mubarak made several remarks and gave directives when these studies were reviewed at the meeting Wednesday.

Minister of Education Hussein Kamel Bahaa Eddin submitted a report on the present and future education policies in Egypt.

President Mubarak gave his directives in the light of these reports and remarks made by governors who attended the meeting and after the President listened to a report on the goals to be achieved during the five-year (2002-2007) plan.

President Mubarak directed that development of the education process should result in making the examination a test of the student's ability to think and research and gauge intelligence and ability to take the initiative.

Stages of development so far have resulted in spreading examinations for the thanawiya aama (General Secondary Education Certificate) over two years. It is planned to spread the examinations over three years.

One expert said that there should be "accumulative evaluation" of students and not to rely on one examination only.

Thanawiya aama is the students' gateway to universities and its examinations are a permanent headache to families.

The Minister of Education said that facilities are under consideration to provide easy loans to needy students to help them finish their studies and repay the loans after they graduate.

Bahaa Eddin said plans are underway to set up more public libraries and children's libraries and benefit from the '"Reading For All" project which is sponsored by Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak.

The Minister of Education reviewed plans to develop technical education and results of the Mubarak-Kohl project and the role of the Mubarak City in this respect.

A budget of about two billion pounds is allocated to the Ministry of Education.

The Minister of Information said that the outcome of the studies presented to President Mubarak during the meeting stressed the importance of development and modernizing 750 technical schools, turning 20% of schools into an international level, applying decentralization system in school management and considering the kindergarten stage as a part of a basic education.

Previous Stories:
  European commission presents Bibliotecha Alexandrina with Rome treaty   (6/1/2002)
  ISESCO, Egyptian fund sign cooperation agreement   (5/23/2002)
  Mrs Mubarak briefs UN on Egypt's work to boost education for girls   (5/9/2002)

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