Minister of Planning Highlights Advancements in Vocational and Technical Education at Edu Tech EGYPT 2024 Forum

Her Excellency Dr. Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, represented by Dr. Hanan Nazir, Head of the Labor Market Policies Unit at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, inaugurated the 3rd International Forum and Exhibition on Technical Vocational Education, Dual Education, and Vocational Training, themed “Shape Your Future” - Edu Tech EGYPT 2024.

In her address, Dr. Hala El Said conveyed her appreciation for the consistent organization of this forum and exhibition, in collaboration with the “Start” National Initiative and under the patronage of multiple ministries, including the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. The event garnered significant participation from ministers, members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as distinguished experts, academics, university professors, and representatives from Egyptian and international development organizations.

El Said underscored the forum’s critical role as a pivotal platform for substantive dialogue among government officials responsible for technical vocational education, dual education, and vocational training in Egypt. The objective is to synchronize industry insights and trends, fostering collaborative efforts to enhance the education and training sector, thereby positively influencing Egypt’s educational landscape.

She elaborated on the global transformations and technological advancements that have reshaped labor market demands, altering the requisite technical and professional competencies. Consequently, nations worldwide are endeavoring to align with these rapid advancements, optimizing their human capital. Egypt’s strategy aligns with this global trend, aiming to harness the potential of its youth, equipping them with contemporary skills to meet evolving employment demands within a broader human capital investment framework.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment, El Said emphasized its alignment with comprehensive and sustainable development strategies, notably the National Structural Reform Program. This initiative seeks to transition Egypt towards a knowledge-based, globally competitive economy, fostering inclusive growth, generating quality employment opportunities, diversifying production strategies, enhancing the investment environment, bolstering local industries, and elevating the competitiveness of Egyptian exports.

Furthermore, the program delineates specific targets and enabling measures, encompassing the establishment of the National Authority for Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ETQAAN). It advocates for a paradigm shift towards competency-based educational programs, introducing contemporary specializations, expanding technological educational institutions, fortifying technical education infrastructure, and augmenting technical education facilities in alignment with industrial zones and recent national projects.

Within the National Structural Reform Program framework, the government collaborates with pertinent stakeholders to standardize the vocational training system. This involves forming Sector Skill Councils to set professional benchmarks for each sector, spearheaded by private sector entities. To this end, the National Wages Council endorsed the creation of a new committee, culminating in the issuance of Decision No. 115 for 2023, establishing the Sector Skills Committee. Ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the United States Agency for International Development aims to initiate councils across three sectors.

El Said highlighted the inception of six Centers of Competence in selected technology schools, developed in partnership with the private sector. Initial centers launched within the engineering industries sector enrolled 135 students and 15 educators. The automotive technology center admitted 36 students and 15 educators. Three additional competence centers focusing on sustainable energy and energy efficiency are underway in Maghagha, Minya Governorate, New Aswan City, and Belbeis City, Sharqia Governorate. Three further centers specializing in construction have been identified for establishment in Badr City and Girga City, Sohag.

Concluding her remarks, El Said reiterated the Egyptian government’s unwavering belief in the imperative of cultivating a skilled workforce capable of propelling developmental initiatives. The government remains committed to fostering robust partnerships with both local and international development entities to sustain achievements across diverse sectors. In this vein, collaborative efforts with international development partners are advancing to implement a comprehensive Labor Market Information System (LMIS). Supervised by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development in conjunction with relevant stakeholders, the LMIS aims to consolidate comprehensive labor market data, facilitating informed policy-making, addressing unemployment challenges, and adapting to contemporary employment dynamics influenced by technological and digital transformations.