Egypt’s Ministry of Education and Technical Education will develop an education system that encourages the cognitive progress of students, rather than just obtaining certificates, according to Minister Tarek Shawky.
During his participation at a Canadian-Egyptian Business Council (CEBC) meeting, on Tuesday, Shawky reviewed Egypt’s education development plan. He outlined that his ministry is carrying out a variety of plans to modify the curriculum in a way that develops critical thinking among students, in a move away from their studying just to pass exams.
He said that the Ministry of Education and Technical Education began investing in digital education as early as 2016, and successfully added content to the online Knowledge Bank in 2018 for students across several school grades. He noted that over 10.4 million electronic exams for high school students have been held in the past two years.
Shawky added that his ministry has encountered a myriad of problems in ensuring students adapt to the electronic education system. The Ministry of Education and Technical Education has also made significant efforts in reducing private lessons, which have been a common feature among school-age students in recent years.
He said that the ministry has provided a number of digital platforms and lessons that have been broadcast live, in a move to help students access the curriculum.
More than seven digital platforms have been established in time for the new 2020-2021academic year, Shawky said, in addition to the broadcast of educational programmes on television channels. The new plan aims to reduce the density of students in classrooms, as part of precautionary measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Meanwhile, the minister added that the new technical education system depends on the idea of competencies, which work to give students specialised skills in their field.
He also said that the Ministry of Education and Technical Education has developed Egypt’s schools of applied technology, in cooperation with industrial partners, to provide improved opportunities for students at these entities.
Shawky reiterated Egypt’s keenness to develop the technical education available nationwide, in order to meet the needs of the labour market and enhance the capabilities of the national economy.
