The United States and Egypt signed partnership agreements to establish six new international applied technology schools across Egypt specialised in various fields, including retail, electronics, and artificial intelligence.

These schools are the newest development in the US government’s $1.7bn (EGP 26.7bn) investment in education in Egypt over the past 40 years. The schools will promote innovation and creativity, encourage a culture of entrepreneurship, and connect students to jobs in partnership with the private sector.

“The United States and Egypt are upgrading technical education to meet the needs of the private sector in line with the government of Egypt’s education strategy. These six new schools are part of the US government’s $70m ‘Workforce Egypt Project’ that will prepare 100,000 students for jobs in the private sector in Egypt and globally,” said US Ambassador Jonathan R. Cohen.

The new schools will be located in Sharqeya, Assiut, Alexandria, Giza, and Minya, and will be established in partnership with the following companies: Afro Egypt, Deifallah Group, Elsewedy Electrometre, Fathalla Markets, Fresh Group, and Misr Insurance.

These are the first six of ten schools the US Government will help establish. Through coordination with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education and the private sector, Egyptian technical education will better meet the needs of the labour market and connect skilled young people to private sector jobs.

The US’ support for technical education in Egypt and engagement with the private sector is part of a $30bn (EGP 471bn) investment that the country has funded in Egypt through USAID since 1978.