Egypt’s Ministry of Education and Technical Education has signed a cooperation protocol with the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development to establish and operate 10 Egyptian-German applied technology schools, alongside a joint declaration of intent with the German government to develop the country’s technical schools.
The protocol, signed in Berlin by Egyptian Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdellatif and Sawiris Foundation Executive Director Laila Hosny, will create schools specialising in the hospitality and construction sectors.
Simultaneously, Abdellatif signed a joint declaration with Niels Annen, Minister of State at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The agreement aims to develop Egyptian-German technical schools, prepare qualified technical cadres according to international standards, and link technical education to labour market needs.
Abdellatif stated that the declaration represents a step in Egyptian-German cooperation to develop the technical education system, noting that the ministry focuses on applying international practices and enhancing private sector partnerships. He added that the model aligns with the state’s direction to elevate technical education quality and support the human capital development targets of Egypt Vision 2030.
Annen said the joint declaration reflects a mutual commitment to continue cooperation in technical education and vocational training. He noted that the model will link educational outputs to labour market requirements by supporting accreditation systems, quality assurance, capacity building, and private sector partnerships.
The declaration outlines a scalable approach to developing the schools as part of the Egyptian education system. Institutions meeting international standards compatible with ISO will be granted “Egyptian-German” status. The agreement includes expanding work-based and dual education models, establishing sustainable private sector partnerships, and studying the application of dual certification models.
Curricula will be competency-based and include specialised technical German language units ranging from the A1 to B1 levels. Schools will be equipped with modern infrastructure and workshops adhering to industrial standards.
Under the declaration, the Egyptian government will provide human resources, buildings, and necessary equipment. The German side will support the project through development cooperation, capacity building, curriculum development, teacher training, and fostering private sector participation. Annual progress will be monitored in coordination with the Technical Education Reform Office (TERO).
The protocol with the Sawiris Foundation, which enacts an existing memorandum of understanding with Germany, combines academic study with practical training. It regulates the nature of study and specialisations, allowing for the creation, modification, or cancellation of disciplines by mutual agreement to keep pace with industrial and technological developments.
Upon fulfilling academic and practical training requirements, students will receive an applied technology school diploma approved by the Ministry of Education, alongside professional or experience certificates.
Both parties committed to seeking accreditation for the schools and programmes from competent authorities. The Ministry of Education and Technical Education will set student evaluation standards, supervise the examination system, approve study results, and issue official certificates.
The agreements intend to upgrade the professional competencies of youth and provide specialised job opportunities for technical education graduates in both Egypt and Germany.
