Under Egypt Vision 2030, Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, chaired the third meeting of the Higher Advisory Committee for Human Development. The committee, which includes a distinguished group of experts from various fields, convened to discuss the ongoing efforts to implement Egypt’s National Human Development Strategy.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education; Dr. Hala El-Said, Advisor to the President for Economic Development; Dr. Magdy Osman, Committee Rapporteur and Head of the Egyptian Center for Public Opinion Research “Baseera”; and the former Minister of Communications and Information Technology.
The Role of Health and Education in Sustainable Development
The meeting highlighted the central importance of health and education as fundamental pillars of sustainable development. Dr. Abdel Ghaffar emphasized that the integration of these two sectors is key to building a healthier, more educated generation, capable of contributing to national development.
Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, explained that the committee focused on the importance of developing both health and educational services for children, particularly in early childhood education. This includes improving skills development, encouraging creativity, and providing integrated educational, health, and social programs.
Expanding Early Childhood Education
A significant topic of discussion was the expansion of nurseries and kindergartens in line with the government’s ongoing efforts to support early childhood development. Dr. Abdel Ghaffar noted that the Deputy Prime Minister stressed the importance of turning ideas into executable programs and projects, with clear timelines to be presented later to the Human Development Ministerial Group for review and implementation.
The government aims to increase access to early childhood care and education, ensuring that children receive the foundational skills they need for future success.
Addressing Nutritional Challenges for Children
The meeting also focused on improving the health and nutrition levels of children, specifically addressing malnutrition and stunting among Egyptian children. This falls under the Presidential Initiative for a New Beginning, which aims to improve the overall health and nutrition standards of the population, with a focus on the vulnerable child demographic.
The committee discussed the ongoing efforts to combat malnutrition and reduce stunting, which remains a significant issue in the country. The discussions revolved around introducing new measures to ensure that children have access to adequate nutrition, which is essential for their physical and cognitive development.
Improving Quality of Education
Another critical issue tackled was the need to enhance the quality of education at the pre-university level. The meeting emphasized the importance of developing teacher capabilities, creating effective educational environments, and ensuring equal opportunities for all students, regardless of background.
Minister of Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif shared updates on the Ministry’s efforts to improve literacy and numeracy rates, focusing particularly on addressing literacy challenges among students. He outlined initiatives designed to tackle learning difficulties and develop remedial programs to support struggling students.
In line with the national focus on development, the ministry is also updating educational content to align with global trends, while prioritizing the improvement of school nutrition programs. These initiatives are aimed at ensuring children receive balanced meals to enhance their ability to learn and perform academically.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was agreed that continuous coordination among all concerned entities is essential to ensure the successful implementation of the discussed programs. Regular follow-ups and evaluations will be conducted to assess progress and address challenges as they arise.
