GENERAL INFORMATION

Since the onset of the 1990s, education and culture have become priorities, as Egypt exerts efforts to develop education at all levels as the cornerstone of progress. The new education policy specifies a number of approaches which aim to upgrade education in quantity and quality.

Despite the huge efforts exerted and the tangible increase of education allocations in recent years, there are still many difficulties facing the process of reform.

These difficulties require:

- Improving access to and equity in education.

- Seeking adequate financing for comprehensive educational reform.

- Generalizing compulsory education, particularly in rural areas and among disadvantaged people, especially women and girls.

- Constructing enough schools to allow full enrollment, reduced class sizes and an end to bifurcated school “shifts” designed to accommodate student overload.

- Raising the required allocations to continue improving the material and social conditions of teachers while upgrading their professional and scientific qualifications.

- Overcoming illiteracy and developing systems and programs of adult education, particularly in remote areas.

Education is considered crucial for the continuous development of Egyptian society. EACD is working with several stakeholders:

- 10 local Community Development Associations (CDAs), to implement educational activities through art programs, kindergartens and literacy classes

- The Ministry of Education, to develop activities for children and training sessions for teachers inside schools. Schools open during vacations and days off to implement activities for the children. The Association regularly organizes camps for the children, sometimes assisted by their family members, where they clean, plant greenery, and otherwise renovate their schools.

- The Ministry of Youth and its youth clubs, which implement activities, events and exhibitions for children and youth of the local community