A closer look at the new education council: The House of Representatives has recently given final approval to a draft law establishing the National Council for Education, Research, and Innovation, which will coordinate directly with ministries and relevant bodies to ensure education policies align with the demands of Egypt’s labor market, both domestically and internationally. The council will submit biannual reports to the President, outlining its activities, progress, and any adjustments needed to support educational advancements.

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What will the council do? The council will set policies for all education levels, create national strategies for research and innovation, and align educational outcomes with local and global labor market demands. The council will coordinate with ministries to update sector priorities, develop school infrastructure plans, expand vocational training aligned with economic needs, and implement a strategy to promote Egypt’s educational and research outputs locally and internationally.

Who’s on the council? The prime minister will head the council, with ministers from relevant sectors, leaders of related institutions, and a select group of experts and business figures appointed by the president based on nominations by the prime minister. Each member will serve a renewable two-year term.

The council adopts an independent model for education policy making — a common approach globally that is new to Egypt — that will balance the needs of students, teachers, and public and private institutions, House Education Committee member Doaa Oriaby told EnterpriseAM. Oriaby added that this structure is designed to elevate educational quality through inclusive, comprehensive policies.

The new council will unify Egypt’s fragmented education systems, crafting cohesive policies that drive development and keep pace with global standards, professor and chatshow education pundit Tamer Shawky told EnterpriseAM.

Tapping the private sector for vocational training is also part of the plan: The council aims to strengthen technical education by linking it directly to labor market needs, taking cues from the Mubarak Kol model, where schools partner with factories and workshops.

But some are also calling for the updating of the Education Act: Setting up the council is a much-needed move, but serious partnerships with education investors and the state are essential to improving Egypt’s education standards, Private School Owners Association Deputy Chairman Badawy Allam told EnterpriseAM. Allam called for a new legislative framework to replace the 1981 Education Act, to attract investment and encourage private sector involvement to reduce the reliance of the sector on the government, enhance quality, and support the country’s educational goals.

Tax breaks and rule changes should play an important part: Allam shared that he discussed with the education minister ways to attract investors to the education sector, focusing on tax exemptions. He also called for a review of private-sector partnership requirements for establishing specialized schools, which currently mandate a capital of EGP 100 mn — a setup that limits investment interest.

Longer leases and easier financing are also part of the puzzle: He also highlighted the need for easier financing from banks in light of rising costs and proposed extending the land lease agreement period for school facilities from 30 to 50 years to mitigate rising construction expenses.

Shifting more responsibility to the private sector would ease the government’s burden of EGP 15k per student annually, while providing affordable, high-quality options, Allam notes. An incentive system could drive competition and help unify fragmented initiatives within education reform.

Your top education stories for the week:

  • The Supreme Council of National Universities granted preliminary approval to establish the New Valley National University, advancing the proposal to its procedural steps.(Statement)
  • Orange expands its Digital Schools project: Orange Egypt now covers 100 schools under its Digital Schools initiative, which aims to enhance tech-driven education in underserved areas, train teachers in digital skills, and equip centers with tablets, laptops, and internet access to support a modern learning environment. (Statement, pdf)
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