Higher education investment plan discussed

Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala el-Saeed Thursday met Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Khaled Abdel Ghaffar  to discuss the investment plan of the Ministry of the Higher Education for the fiscal year (FY) 2021-2022.

Education is the most important element in the investment plan, Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the sustainable development plan, el-Said said during the meeting.

“Education plays an important role in the economic development process by providing the labour market with the qualified workers which enhances the competitiveness of the national economy.

“It is essential that the educational system projects comply with the state’s plan, whether in providing education or in bridging the gap between graduates and the labour market,” el-Saeed added, noting that the education and health sectors have the priority in the FY 2021-2022 plan.

El-Saeed also referred to the importance of the technological universities that contribute in creating new jobs needed by the labour market.

At the centre of discussions was the importance of the scientific research sector as the main guarantor for achieving comprehensive and sustainable economic development within the framework of Egypt’s Vision 2030, by supporting innovative capabilities and scientific research in various fields.

For his part, Abdel Ghaffar noted the important support provided by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development for higher education and scientific research projects in line with the state plan for sustainable development 2030, stressing his appreciation for presidential support for higher education and scientific research to meet the needs of society by establishing more educational institutions across the country to accommodate the increasing number of applicants.

“It is important to support technological universities as a means to reduce unemployment and opening labour markets to graduates from these universities, in addition to achieving development in the new urban areas where establishing new universities is expanding,” Abdel Ghaffar added. Six technological universities are to be established in the cities of East Port Said, 6 October, Borg el-Arab, New Luxor, Taiba, Assiout and Samanood, Gharbiya Governorate.