Deal to promote technical education

Mohamed Zain

The Ministry of Education and Technical Education witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement between Nahdet Misr Foundation and The Facility Investing for Employment (IFE), to employ technical education graduates and qualify them for the labour market, in addition to developing and rehabilitating the Bigam Centre for Technical Education and Training at a cost of up to €7.6 million.

The agreement focuses on establishing the Tahil International Academy with investments of €7.06 million, of which €3.53 million comes from the Investment for Employment Initiative (IFE) as a support grant, while Nahdet Misr contributed 50 per cent of the investment.

Dr Mohamed Mujahid, Deputy Minister of Education and Technical Education, said that there were real problems during the past years facing students of technical education to fit the requirements of the labour market.

Therefore, the Ministry of Education and Technical Education devised a strategy to eliminate obstacles to technical education, which is founded on a partnership with the private sector and student evaluation.

Dalia Ibrahim, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nahdet Misr Foundation, said through the Foundation, there are training courses for a period of 12 months in all industrial and hotel specialisations, communications and information technology, and others.

The official expressed her appreciation for the German Development Agency, for providing real support in the educational process, by providing an employment center that provides job opportunities throughout the educational period for students.

In addition, the Facility Investing for Employment (IFE) announced the signing of a grant agreement to support a collaborative project between the public and private sectors, led by Egypt’s Nahdet Misr Publishing House, known for its leadership in education, culture, and capacity building. This project involves the participation of the Egyptian Network for Employment Promotion (NEP) and aims to establish the “Ta’heal International Academy” with an investment of 7.06 million euros. The Facility is committed to contributing 50% of these investments, amounting to 3.53 million euros, while Nahdet Misr will cover the remaining 50% of the investment. The agreement signing was witnessed by Dr. Mohamed Megahed, Deputy Minister of Education and Technical Educationand Mr. Holger Illi, Head of German Development cooperation.

Under this agreement, Nahdet Misr will commence the transformation of the “Begam Training Center” located in the Shubra Al-Khaimah area into the Ta’heal International Academy. This will become an integrated educational and training institution, encompassing a school for vocational education, a vocational training center, as well as an entrepreneurship center and employment office in cooperation with the Egyptian Network for Employment Promotion (NEP).

“Egypt’s economy needs to add 800.000 to 1 million new jobs every year to integrate the young generation. To allow the private sector to grow and create employment, Egypt needs to up the speed of its structural reforms and create a level playing field for businesses. The job of the state is to create framework conditions that allow markets to function and businesses to compete productively.” Stated Holger Illi, Head of German Development cooperation.