Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, participated in the opening of the Fourth International Forum and Exhibition on Technical and Technological Education, Dual Education, and Vocational Training. Under the theme “Technical and Technological Education: Opportunities and Challenges,” the event saw the participation of key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministries of Education, Technical Education, Labor, the European Union, and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development, among others.
In her speech, Dr. Al-Mashat expressed her pleasure in taking part in an event that serves as an essential platform for constructive dialogue among professionals and decision-makers in Egypt’s technical and vocational education sector. The forum seeks to build effective partnerships that positively impact Egypt’s future workforce.
The Minister emphasized that enhancing Egypt’s technical education and vocational training systems is a top priority for the government, as outlined in its comprehensive development program. She noted that one of the government’s strategic objectives is to provide high-quality education that directly contributes to the creation of future jobs.
Dr. Al-Mashat further highlighted that this initiative aligns with Egypt’s national vision, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt Vision 2030. The strategy aims to create an integrated system for technical education and vocational training, recognizing the crucial role this sector plays in equipping young people with the skills and competencies needed to meet labor market demands, especially in the context of the digital transformation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The Minister also pointed out that the government, in collaboration with the World Bank, is working on a new strategy for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Egypt for the 2025-2030 period. This strategy focuses on investments that leverage new sources of knowledge-intensive capital, technology, skills, and market connectivity. The goal is to enhance Egypt’s competitiveness, diversify the economy, foster innovation and technology, develop human capital, and generate high-quality jobs for the country’s citizens.
Besides, Dr. Al-Mashat emphasized that the strategy prioritizes strengthening skills training programs and aligning skill development with the private sector’s needs. This alignment is vital for creating a competitive workforce, which is a key factor for attracting foreign investors in various sectors.
In line with these priorities, the Egyptian government is expanding the establishment of applied technology schools across the country, modernizing technical education facilities, and increasing its cooperation with bilateral and multilateral development partners to enhance vocational education in Egypt.
Minister Al-Mashat also noted that the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation is intensifying public investments in the education sector, which is considered one of the primary drivers of human development. This includes allocating investments to all stages of education, with a particular focus on technical education, which plays an essential role in developing human capital and meeting labor market needs. In the 2024/2025 fiscal year, total investments directed toward higher education, research, and technical education amount to approximately EGP 71.4 billion.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Mashat confirmed that the government is expanding the network of technical and applied technology schools and completing the infrastructure for technological universities, with a target of increasing the number of such universities from 9 to 12 in the coming year. The broader goal is to ensure full coverage of technological and private universities in the coming years.
On a related note, the Minister highlighted Egypt’s ongoing cooperation with international development partners, with a portfolio of over 39 educational projects funded by development assistance. These projects, valued at over USD 3.8 billion, aim to enhance learning outcomes for children, improve teacher capabilities, and upgrade curricula. In addition, they include initiatives for specialized schools in science and technology and other technical and vocational education and training projects.
Dr. Al-Mashat reiterated that such initiatives are critical to Egypt’s strategy of building a resilient and future-ready workforce equipped with the skills required for a rapidly evolving global economy.
