2007年-世界发展银行全球_Survey_of_ICT_and_Education_in_Africa___Egypt_Country_Report_16页_294kb

Summary of ICT in Education in Egypt

Core Content

The document provides an overview of the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the education system of Egypt, as part of a broader Survey of ICT in Education in Africa. It highlights the national policies, initiatives, and projects aimed at enhancing ICT use in schools and higher education, as well as the role of public-private partnerships and international collaboration in this process.

Main Views and Key Information

National Vision and Policies

• The Egyptian government has a vision of an information society, with ICT seen as a key driver for human capital development, improved government services, cultural promotion, and economic growth.
• A national ICT policy is managed by the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (MCIT) and includes education as a priority.
• The Ministry of Education is responsible for planning, policy formulation, quality control, and implementation of educational policies.
• The Egyptian Education Initiative (EEI), launched by the First Lady, is a prominent public-private partnership aimed at improving education through ICT.

Education System Overview

• The education system is state-sponsored and includes primary, preparatory, and secondary levels, with basic education being mandatory.
• Higher education consists of public and private universities and technical institutions.
• The system is highly gender-segregated, with a notable imbalance in student enrollment between boys and girls in various educational stages.

ICT Penetration in Education

• As of 2006, 69.7% of schools in Egypt had computer labs with Internet access.
• The number of schools with computer labs has increased over time, with the most significant growth in primary and secondary education.
• Table 3 provides a breakdown of ICT penetration by education level, showing that primary schools have the highest number of computer labs.

ICT Penetration in the Population

• The population's Internet penetration increased from 0.7% in 2000 to 7.0% in 2006.
• The growth rate of Internet users is much faster than the growth rate of school enrollment in computer labs.

Current ICT Initiatives in Education

Ministry of Education Initiatives

• Multimedia Laboratories: Established in public and experimental schools, providing multimedia teaching tools.
• Knowledge Sources Network: Offers Internet access to over 4,000 schools and includes an electronic library with CD-ROMs, videotapes, and books.
• Educational Satellite Transmission: Enables schools to access thematic educational channels, with plans to extend to remote rural areas.
• Information System and Decision-making Support: A database using Oracle software covers all schools, and training is provided in areas such as GIS and database creation.
• Electronic Educational Project: Focuses on creating a new educational environment with e-learning and self-learning principles.
• Training for Development: Includes video-conference learning centers and a network and multimedia training center in Al Haram.
• Production of Educational Aids: 138 multimedia programs and 75 films have been developed for different educational levels.
• IT Clubs: Over 1,200 IT clubs nationwide, supported by Microsoft Unlimited Potential, to improve computer literacy and access.
• Free Internet and Broadband: A successful initiative in Cairo offering subscription-free Internet via dial-up to special-prefix numbers.
• PC for Community: Aims to increase PC usage and reach one PC per three families, supported by banks and telecom providers.

Higher Education Initiatives

• Information and Communications Technology Project (ICTP): Provides digital libraries and e-learning content to public universities.
• Faculties of Education Project (FOEP): Improves infrastructure and curricula in 18 out of 26 education faculties, representing 70% of the total.

Ministry of Communication and Information Technology Initiatives

• Technology Mobile Teams: Mobile units provide ICT development to remote areas, supported by the Egypt ICT Trust Fund.
• Mobile ICT Unit: Equipped buses serve remote communities with media labs.
• ICT for Illiteracy Eradication: Uses CD-based interactive tutorials to improve literacy, with pilot programs showing better retention and learning outcomes.
• e-Learning Competence Centre (eLCC): Coordinates national e-learning efforts, with support from Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco, Middlesex University, and the Learning Institute.
• ICT for Community Development: Aims to improve computer literacy and access to services.
• Smart Schools Network: A two-phase initiative to modernize the education system, with 38 schools in the first phase and 50 in the second.

Collaborative Projects and Partnerships

• iEARN Project: A global network of 15,000 schools that enables collaborative learning.
• GLOBE: An international project to raise environmental awareness among students.
• Seed Project: A collaboration with Intel and Schlumberger to promote creativity in learning.
• NEPAD e-Schools Project: A regional initiative to connect schools across Africa to an e-schools network.
• Mtandao Afrika (MAF): A youth-focused program to develop educational websites, supported by Microsoft and SchoolNet Africa.
• Josoor Arabia: Promotes Arabic-language content on the Internet, in collaboration with SchoolNet Africa.
• Global Teenager Project: A collaborative learning program for secondary students.
• Virtual Egyptian Chinese School Project: A joint initiative to teach Arabic and Chinese through distance learning.

Strategic Decisions

• Virtual Research and Development Centers of Excellence (CoE): Aim to support innovation in ICT applications.
• Technology Development Fund: A public-private partnership to invest in Egyptian start-up companies and reduce brain drain.

Conclusion

Egypt has made significant strides in integrating ICT into its education system, driven by national policies and international partnerships. The focus is on improving access, enhancing learning through multimedia and e-learning, and supporting the development of the local ICT industry. Despite progress, challenges remain in ensuring equitable access and maintaining the momentum of these initiatives.