A protocol of cooperation was signed on 27 February between Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) and the Ministry of Education and Technical Education.
The protocol stipulates the establishment of a new technical education school, the Onsi Sawiris Applied Technology and Construction School, in partnership between the Ministry of Education, SFSD, and Orascom Construction. The new school will be established in the industrial zone of Ain Sokhna in Suez, and will start operation in the 2024 – 2025 school year.
The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Education and Technical Education, Reda Hegazy; Executive Director of SFSD, Noura Selim; CEO of Orascom Construction, Osama Beshay; and Director of Administration Vocational training in the German Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Mona Ayoub.
According to SFSD, the school aims to provide high-quality technical education opportunities to students interested in the fields of construction, following international quality education guidelines.
Dr Hegazy highlighted the government’s interest in developing vocational education in Egypt, and the particular directives of the political leadership to do that according to international quality standards to answer the market employment needs. He explained that developing this sector would attract investmens, and hence reduce unemployment and empower Egypt’s industry and economy.
The Onsi Sawiris school is the 48th school of applied technology [established by Egyptian industrialists according to international standards], Dr Hegazy explained. He said that, in the span of five years since they were first established, the schools of applied technology have greatly contributed to technical education. He explained that the Ministry has joined hands with some 40 partners to establish these schools in various fields including industry, agriculture, hotelerie and commerce.
Mohamed Megahed, Deputy Minister of Education for Technical Education Affairs, said that the Onsi Sawiris School is the first international boarding applied technology and construction school in Egypt in the field of construction. He explained that during three years of study in school, students will be taught the theoretical part of their study through cultural and technical courses, and will learn the practical part through training with Orascom Construction. Mr Megahed said that a high-end German company specialised in vocational education was assigned with developing the school curriculum.
According to Amr Basila, Head of the Central Administration for the Development of Technical Education and Director of the Operation and Management Unit of Applied Technology Schools, Orascom Construction will undertake the construction of the school, and will also oversee the practical training of the students, and the subsequent placement of the skilled graduates once they graduate. Mr Basila pointed out that the school will be built close to Orascom’s work sites which will include training sites for the students.
Ms Selim, Executive Director of SFSD said that the Sawiris Foundation has over the last 20 years contributed greatly to the development of vocational education in Egypt. SFSD has to its name successful vocational and technical education models including the German Hotel School in Gouna, and the Technical Nursing Institute in Gouna which have both graduated hundreds of skilled workers.
The idea behind establishing the Onsi Sawiris Applied Technology and Construction School, Ms Selim explained, goes back to the Sawiris family’s desire to celebrate the great life journey of Onsi Sawiris (1930 – 2021), father of the three Sawiris brothers business tycoons: Nassef, Naguib, and Samih.
Onsi Sawiris was a pioneer in the field of construction, and a true supporter of education in Egypt, especially technical and vocational education. He had over the years offered scholarships to outstanding students to join the renowned Don Bosco Technical Institute. He also took many initiatives to support and develop technical schools.
“Today,” she said, “we are honoured in his name, and in partnership with the Ministry of Education, to present to the Egyptian community this school based on internationally approved educational methods, based on practical training and innovation, and we hope to contribute through it to the creation of a new generation of trained technical calibres, and to change in the society’s view of technical education, which is one of the main pillars in the renaissance of the economy.”
Watani International
28 February 2023
Discussion about this post