The Board of Directors of the Education Development Fund, affiliated with the Prime Minister’s Office, held a meeting on Thursday, December 19, chaired by Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the Prime Minister, with the attendance of Lt. General Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, Minister of Industry and Transport, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mohamed Abdel-Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, Dr. Hani Helal, Former Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Rasha Saad Sharaf, Secretary-General of the Education Development Fund, Al-Sisi, Assistant Minister of Finance, and officials from several ministries and concerned authorities.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Mostafa Madbouly emphasized the role of the fund in contributing to improving the educational process in both the higher education and pre-university sectors. He also highlighted its role in enhancing cooperation and coordination between the Ministries of Education and Technical Education, and Higher Education and Scientific Research, to present pioneering educational models and provide high-quality education that produces graduates capable of meeting the needs of the labor market with highly trained and qualified human resources.

For her part, Dr. Rasha Saad Sharaf, Secretary-General of the Education Development Fund, stated that the meeting saw the ratification of the minutes of the Board of Directors meeting No. 43, the follow-up on the implementation of decisions made in the previous meeting, and the presentation of the Fund's work strategy and future projects to the Board. The meeting also discussed all the technical and financial aspects of these projects, in line with the strategies of the Ministries of Education and Technical Education, and Higher Education and Scientific Research, to ensure the integration of Egypt's educational system. In this regard, the 2030 vision and mission of the Education Development Fund were referred to, along with the strategic pillars that would contribute to achieving the objectives of the Fund's establishment.

In a press release issued today, Dr. Sharaf mentioned that during the meeting, the Board approved the launch of the “Vocational Qualification Academies for Working Abroad” project. This project aligns with the Fund's launch of an International Labor Market Observatory to export Egyptian labor abroad. The goal of these academies is to qualify one million Egyptian professionals/technicians over five years for labor markets in Europe, Canada, the USA, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

She further explained that the Board also approved the "21st Century Skills Centers" project, in collaboration with Cisco, aimed at building and developing youth capabilities by teaching them globally relevant and useful skills. The Board also endorsed the Fund’s implementation of the "Kozan" Japanese educational model, in coordination with the Ministries of Education and Technical Education, and Higher Education and Scientific Research. This is an advanced engineering educational system offering specialized education after the preparatory stage for five years, with a focus on hands-on training and practical experience from an early stage. The curriculum enables students to acquire knowledge and skills at the same level or higher than university students by the time they graduate. The first cohort of students is set to start in September of next year. The Board also approved the preparation of a detailed study for expanding the Japanese schools in Egypt and sustaining the Japanese "Tokatsu" activities across schools nationwide.

Dr. Sharaf also pointed out that the Board approved the launch of the “Alpha Generation” Kindergarten project, in collaboration with the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, as part of the Fund's focus on nurturing young people in line with the political leadership's vision to build an advanced and integrated society, starting with the care of youth. Additionally, the Board approved the initiation of a pioneering project in the region: the establishment of a "Food University" in coordination with the Ministries of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Agriculture and Land Reclamation, as well as in collaboration with the Hamk University of Applied Sciences in Finland, international supporters such as the European Union and the World Food Program, and various companies. This university will offer unique programs that meet labor market needs and open new opportunities for young people. The university is set to include three faculties: Smart Agriculture, Water Technology, and Animal Production.

Furthermore, Dr. Sharaf mentioned that the Board agreed to begin preparing a curriculum and applications for self-learning systems in reading and arithmetic in primary education, using innovative methods to teach native languages and arithmetic skills. This will eventually become an essential component of public education once the project is fully implemented. The Board also approved the Fund's initiation of a project to establish the Egyptian Testing Center and develop the National Center for Examinations and Educational Evaluation to align with international specialized testing centers.