A Revolution Inside a Revolution: Tales of Radical Educational Transformation Inside a New Egypt

• In Event: Welcome to the Dream: Revolutionizing Education Amid Egypt’s Ongoing Arab Spring

Abstract

The January 25th Revolution and the events that followed in Egypt over the course of 2011 toppled a thirty-year regime and demonstrated the power of Egypt’s people to transform the political and social landscape of their country. Articulating increased frustration over the lack of economic mobility, Egyptian youth found their voice not only through street demonstrations, but through innovative social media tools, ushering in a new era of 21st Century democracy that functions both within and through a technologically driven global society.

As Egypt redefines itself both politically and socially, the challenges of educating a surging youthful population are vital for survival. The Ministry of Education is a massive institution, employing over 1.6 million teachers and administrators and serving 15 million students through 27 Mudireyas, 270 Idaras and 45,000 schools. Despite the impetus of change sweeping the country, an institution this large is not easily reformed unless change comes from within

With funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) a consortium of four US partners together with an Egyptian team is guiding the Ministry of Education to initiate an innovative Science, Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) schools track to harness the potential of its youth. In September 2011, the Ministry inaugurated the first in a network of STEM-focused high schools for gifted students. This nascent network of STEM high schools, or “centers of excellence”, embodies trans-disciplinary collaboration, real world applications, critical thinking and a pioneering spirit. In this way, the Ministerial STEM initiative directly supports a new vision of Egypt as a country equipped with both the human capital and institutional resources to excel in the international marketplace. These STM schools aim to provide the best and brightest of Egypt’s youth with superior classroom instruction supported by cutting edge technology. The mandate of these schools is extraordinary. Not only will they serve as incubators for future leaders and innovators, but they will spearhead a nationwide effort to upgrade and refocus the national curriculum towards education standards that are more relevant for the 21st century. Students benefitting from this type of education will have the potential to advance as national leaders at the forefront of research and development initiatives that fuel scientific invention and generate employment opportunities and economic growth.

USAID’s current strategy of committing resources to the establishment of a successful and functional STEM prototype has the potential to foment innovation across the education system.

This paper, authored by the former Deputy Minister of Education, will provide an inside look at the historic challenges and opportunities with an ancient yet newly emerging country.

Authors

• Reda Abouserie, World Learning Cairo

• F. Joseph Merlino, The 21st Century Partnership for STEM Education