Egypt launches national numeracy program and fourth phase of Arabic skills program

Egypt's education ministry has launched a national numeracy program and the fourth phase of its Arabic skills program at a ceremony marking earlier phases' results.

• Education Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif launched the fourth phase of the Arabic skills program and the first phase of a national numeracy program.
• The ceremony announced results from the program's first three phases and honored 17 teachers from 17 governorates.
• Abdel Latif said school enrollment does not guarantee learning, and the ministry restored attendance, addressed teacher shortages and reduced class densities.
• Leila Hosny, executive director of the Sawiris Foundation, announced a partnership between her foundation, the ministry and UNICEF at the launch.
• The ministry announced the first-phase governorates: Fayoum, Aswan, Assiut, North Sinai, Alexandria, Giza, Cairo, Damietta, Sohag and Ismailia.
• The program will add 2,500 schools, reach up to one million children and train about 10,000 teachers.
• Cristina Albertin, UN acting resident coordinator in Egypt, said over 1.1 million children have benefited from the Arabic language skills program.
• Abdel Latif said cutting class density and filling teacher gaps are steps toward reform, not the end goal, adding the evaluation system also needs improvement.