The private education sector is getting a USD 100 mn shot in the arm: A consortium of local, Emirati, US, and Canadian investors are stumping up some USD 100 mn to set up five St. Anthony International Schools in the country over the next five years. Announced in an event attended by EnterpriseAM last week, the schools will be established in East and West Cairo, as well as coastal cities. We sat down with St. Anthony International Schools Managing Director Marco Shenouda (LinkedIn) to discuss the project, the group’s investment plans, and the local education sector’s appeal to foreign investors.

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Where things stand: A campus has already been established on the Suez Road and is on track to open in the 2025-2026 academic year, while a second school is currently being set up in the new capital, Shenouda said. The New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) allocated a 10k sqm land plot for the first school and 12k sqm for the second, Shenouda added. Other locations under study include 6th of October and Hurghada.

The project has a holistic approach to education: St. Anthony International Schools aims to introduce a balanced education model that focuses equally on tech-driven academics and character-building. Curricula will incorporate technologies like AI, robotics, and programming, while emphasizing values such as tolerance, integrity, non-violence, and inclusivity. The rationale is to equip students not just with knowledge, but also the ability to tackle real-life challenges and become agents of change, Shenouda explained. The schools will also introduce entrepreneurship education for younger students through partnerships with specialized institutions, he added.

It takes a village to raise a child: St. Anthony International Schools inked strategic partnerships with a handful of players to bring in specialized expertise in several areas, it reaffirmed in a statement (pdf) following the event. The school joined forces with the following institutions:

  • UAE-based Maplewood will help develop the school’s values-driven academic model. It will provide academic oversight whilst facilitating exposure to other cultures and nationalities, Shenouda told us.
  • Egypt’s Fahim Foundation will help provide mental health care for students.
  • RoboGarden Egypt will introduce programming and modern technology education with an emphasis on practical projects.
  • Local player Safe Kids will help implement programs that protect children from harassment and bullying, while also providing digital safety awareness for parents.
  • Beyond Egypt will help deliver programs that focus on personality development and self-confidence.

Social engagement is key: Connecting students with local and international communities is a key focus of the project, Shenouda told us. The school’s partnership with Maplewood, which serves 53 nationalities, will allow Egyptian students to meet international peers. The school will also organize community-based initiatives in Upper Egypt to help bridge social gaps and enable students to contribute to societal development, he added.

Why Egypt? The local education sector is promising thanks to robust population growth and rising demand, Shenouda said. While some investors remain cautious about entering the sector, it has proven to be one of the most resilient to economic challenges. Even during periods of inflation, Egyptian families have continued to prioritize education, with the majority raising education spending, he explained, encouraging investors to enter the sector. Additionally, the government is actively working to eliminate investment obstacles, he said, citing the consortium’s own experience in licensing and startup procedures. Shenouda also pointed to NUCA’s support in providing the needed land when asked about how the group has been affected by the land shortages facing the sector.

Tapping into the PPP education program: The group is currently reviewing proposals from the government’s public-private partnership (PPP) unit to participate in the country’s school development program, Shenouda told us. “We have several plans under study for this project … and we will announce them in due course,” he said.

Regional expansion is on the cards: The group is eyeing regional expansion into Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, Shenouda said.

Is an EGX listing on the agenda? In response to the question, Shenouda indicated the school would first focus on implementing its educational model and gauging the local market’s response before considering horizontal or vertical expansion.

Your top education stories for the week:

  • Toyota school in the works? Japan-based Toyota Group’s trading arm Toyota Tsusho is in talks with the Education Ministry to set up an applied technology school in the country. (Statement)
  • Cairo University to foray into the Gulf: The Supreme Council of Universities approved the establishment of Cairo University branches in the Qatari capital Doha and Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh. (Statement)
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