رضا حجازى: تطوير التعليم ضرورة فى ظل التحول الرقمى وتغير وظائف المستقبل

Today, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education held a conference on “The work directions of the Ministry of Education and Technical Education in light of the strategic plan for education,” in cooperation with UNESCO, UNICEF, and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).

Dr. Reda Hegazy, Minister of Education and Technical Education, thanked UNESCO, UNICEF and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) for their constant support and strong participation in the programs and achievements achieved by the Ministry of Education and Technical Education in partnership with all development partners and the Global Partnership for Education in light of the priorities of the Egyptian state.

Dr. Reda Hegazy stressed that developing education has become an inevitable necessity in light of digital transformation, artificial intelligence and changing jobs of the future, noting that the Ministry is responsible for 25.5 million students.

Dr. Reda Hegazy said that the Ministry was developing an evidence-based strategic plan that deals with existing opportunities and challenges, with support from the Global Partnership for Education, UNICEF as the coordinating agency, and UNESCO.

The Minister continued, “We have come a long way in 3 years through analyzing the education sector, which resulted in a strong strategic plan with a different methodology that ensures the sustainability of development and in which all levels participate, including civil partners.”

Dr. Reda Hegazy explained that the development of the strategic plan came in light of the establishment of upcoming education development projects and in continuation of the previous education development in various fields, indicating that in light of the Egyptian government’s program, 3 axes were developed, which are building the Egyptian human being, education for employment, and protecting security. .

The Minister added that the analysis of the education sector showed that there are many challenges facing education, represented by the density of classes, the incompatibility and completeness of the infrastructure for digital transformation in education for students in their homes and teachers in their classrooms, weak acceptance of change and development in education, whether internal or external structure, and changing societal outlook. For technical education, and the shortage of teachers. The Ministry has developed a precise mechanism for selecting teachers that ensures competence and their possession of the necessary skills for development.

The minister explained that the strategic plan for developing education and technical education aims to address the pillars of reform from the perspective of the system as a whole, such as ensuring the coherence between the ministry’s plan and the national agenda for Egypt’s Vision 2030, enhancing the ministry’s ability to withstand and adapt in the face of challenges and crises, and emphasizing the interconnection of education with the three dimensions of sustainable economic development. , social, and environmental.

He pointed out that the ministry’s journey under the strategic plan began with a review of previous strategic plans for education, and that the plan had been developed and a complete analysis of the education sector was done in cooperation with the Global Partnership for Education and UNICEF, and a number of priorities were put forward as necessary requirements for implementation mechanisms that are in line with the state’s amended strategic plan for sustainable development and its vision. Egypt 2030, the government action program Egypt takes off, the UN agenda (Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development), and the African agenda (Africa Agenda 2063).

The minister added that the pillars of building the strategic plan for education and technical education include quality and expression in organization in accordance with global competitiveness standards, sustainability and lifelong learning, digital transformation, innovation and green learning.

Dr. Reda Hegazy added that the strategic plan’s priorities for sustainable development that are responsive to gender include (children), as the golden years are early childhood and must be invested in, (women), (people of determination), as the Egyptian state cares for them and cares for them, and (the gifted). And the brilliant ones).

The Minister reviewed the general education plan, which includes teacher programs represented by the Education for Tomorrow 2020-2025 program to enhance the quality and importance of education at all levels, the activity of building teachers’ capacities for science and technology, strengthening STEM schools, and supporting the development and training of kindergarten teachers based on a diagnostic study of teaching practices. Supporting continuing professional development (CPD) for supervisors and educational leaders, including (performance standards, professional development training modules, and monitoring tools), and professional development for teachers, and continuing to support the institutional capacity of the Professional Academy for Teachers (PAT) in cooperation with the American University in Cairo, as well as building teachers’ capacities. On learning through play, life skills, and modern teaching methods, and the Egyptian-Japanese Partnership for Education in the Egyptian-Japanese Schools Support Program, stressing that Egyptian-Japanese schools aim to build the Egyptian character and prepare the graduate armed with sustainable skills, adapt to jobs, and search for opportunities, as well as training Egyptian-Japanese school teachers with programs Intensive training in cooperation with Japanese universities.

The Minister also reviewed some programs for language teachers, which aim to improve the competence of English, German, and French language teachers to improve teaching practices and methods in the classroom, in addition to a series of training and workshops, and disseminating the training through teachers.

The Minister referred to the digital transformation programs and the use of technology in education, the technology-enabled open schools project for all, the localization and development of electronic courses in the Arabic language on information and communications technology, the establishment of the educational content and distance learning studio, and the localization of the ICT competency framework for teachers.

In this regard, the Minister pointed out that the students won the ISEF competition, which was held in the United States of America, and that the participating Egyptian students achieved many advanced positions.

The Minister emphasized ensuring the provision of adequate classroom equipment, relevant educational materials and educational technological resources, supporting the development of the student’s digital identity to support the development of digital content compatible with policies to improve the quality of learning, teaching, governance and management, supporting the integration of technology into community education and enhancing learning at the community level.

The Minister also reviewed the comprehensive skills and education program for trainers, to enhance awareness and practical skills among school principals and coordinators, in addition to the national program for improving reading, writing, and numeracy skills, which aims to provide teachers with the teaching and pedagogical techniques necessary to improve students’ basic reading, writing, and numeracy skills, and expand the implementation of programs such as skills. Life and Citizenship Education, Learning through Play, Youth Challenge, and supporting the development and delivery of kindergarten teacher training based on a diagnostic study of teaching practices to support the development of a quality assurance system for kindergartens.

The Minister said that with regard to the curricula, the general framework for the preparatory stage curricula and specific documents have been developed, and the Ministry is now preparing to develop the secondary stage.

The Minister also reviewed the role of community education and the importance of enrolling children in education and combating school dropout through cash transfers to families conditional on attendance by 80% of students, supporting the integration of technology into community education and promoting learning at the community level through social and behavioral change, and community return-to-school campaigns. Addressing internal efficiency and causes of leakage.

The Minister referred to international bodies supporting the development of technical education, such as the GIZ organization, which supports the implementation of career guidance and entrepreneurship programs, digital transformation, activities, and the labor market, as well as the European Union’s support for youth employment and skills, the program to support renewable energy, energy efficiency, and centers of excellence, and the JICA organization, which contributes to Introducing the Japanese KOSEN education system in cooperation with the Ministry of Higher Education, as well as the cooperation of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the USAID organization, which contributes to Egypt’s workforce, such as cooperation in applied technology schools.

For his part, Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, said: “We are pleased to work with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education on a new national program for basic skills in reading, writing and numeracy, which emerged from successful work following our educational recovery from the Covid pandemic.”

He pointed out that supporting learning is about equipping all children with the basics for opportunities and choices in future life.

“We look forward to working with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, UNESCO, the Global Partnership for Education, and development partners to assist the government in its leadership efforts to empower learners and teachers alike,” Hopkins added.

In her speech, Nuria Sanz, Chargé d’Affaires of the UNESCO Office in Cairo, expressed her happiness and pride to be a representative of the UNESCO Regional Office to celebrate the partnership with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF and Success Partners. She also expressed her happiness to be a partner in supporting the executive actions of the Ministry of Education in every… Its projects to develop education, and efforts that began about 4 years ago.

Nuria Sanz stressed the continued support and commitment of UNESCO to support the plans of the education system in Egypt, and the commitment to achieving a better future, reviewing aspects of cooperation, activities and UNESCO’s efforts to achieve real leaps for education in Egypt, including digital transformation, which is a basic pillar of cooperation with the Egyptian government, as well as cooperation to provide education. Suitable for everyone.

Nuria Sanz pointed out that the Ministry has challenges as well as many opportunities, as the Ministry is responsible for more than 25 million students as well as a large number of teachers, stressing the cooperation and support of UNESCO by benefiting from the experiences of other countries and disseminating them in Egypt.

In his speech, Dr. Tariq Khan, Senior Education Specialist at the Global Partnership for Education, confirmed that he participated in many discussions during the action plan in the strategy that began in 2019, before the Corona pandemic.

He explained that the Global Partnership for Education is one of the participating bodies of the Ministry, and provides consultations to all parts of the world and to stakeholders. He pointed out that the goal of the Global Partnership for Education is how to transform education and education in different ways by creating ideas outside the box. He thanked Dr. Reda Hegazy for presenting a vision. A comprehensive plan for all aspects, especially an analysis of the education sector in Egypt.

This came in the presence of representatives of the participating international organizations, namely Jeremy Hopkins, representative of UNICEF in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Noria Sanz, director and representative of UNESCO in the Arab Republic of Egypt, Dr. Tariq Khan, senior education specialist at the Global Partnership for Education, Dr. Hanim Ahmed, education specialist at UNICEF, and Gwang Chol Wang. Head of the Education Policy Department at UNESCO Paris, Alice Berslin, Leader of the Human Development and Comprehensive Growth Team at the European Union Delegation, Shiraz Shakra, Head of the Education Department at UNICEF in Egypt, Radwa Abdel Raouf, Vice President of the Project at the German International Cooperation Agency, and Dr. Amira Kazem, Senior Officer for Education Sector Operations at the Bank. International.

Also present from the Ministry of Education were Dr. Ahmed Daher, Deputy Minister for Technological Development, Major General Yousry Salem, Assistant Minister for Educational Building Authority Affairs, Dr. Ramadan Mohamed Ramadan, Assistant Minister for Examinations and Educational Evaluation, Dr. Ahmed Al-Mohammadi, Assistant Minister for Strategic Planning and Follow-up, and Dr. Sherine Hamdy, Advisor to the Minister for Cooperation. International and Conventions and Supervisor of the Central Administration for Administrative Development, Dr. Akram Hassan, Head of the Central Administration for Curriculum Development, Dr. Hala Abdel Salam, Head of the Central Administration for Public Education, Dr. Zainab Khalifa, Head of the Professional Academy for Teachers, Dr. Amr Basila, Head of the Central Administration for Technical Education Development, and Director of the School Operating Unit. Applied technology.