Korea, Egypt to Launch a $15 Million Project to Enhance Digital Education Accessibility in Egypt

On September 8, Ambassador Kim Yonghyon of the Republic of Korea to Egypt met with H.E. Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, to discuss bilateral cooperation in digital education, Korean language learning, and development of school textbook content.

Ambassador Kim explained that Korea will initiate a five-year $15 million digital education project covering 54 public middle schools across Egypt’s 27 governorates. The project will enhance digital education accessibility by developing ICT-based curricula, strengthening teachers’ capacity in digital and ICT skills, improving digital infrastructure such as computer labs and internet connectivity, and improving systems for administration, evaluation, and policy frameworks. Preparatory studies will be conducted through next year, and the project will officially begin in 2027.

Ambassador Kim emphasized that the advancement of digital technologies, including AI, will profoundly affect labor, employment, and the lives of future generations, underscoring the importance of integrating digital education into the formal curriculum. He added that Korea, as a global leader in digital transformation in education, has accumulated significant experience and know-how in strengthening public digital education worldwide and is committed to contributing to Egypt’s digital transition in education.

Ambassador Kim highlighted the growing interest among Egyptians in learning Korean and expressed hope that Egyptian youth would soon have the opportunity to study the language within the formal school curriculum. He noted that demand for Korean language courses at the King Sejong Institute of the Korean Cultural Center has seen application rates reaching as high as ten to one, leading to the establishment of two additional institutes this year in Cairo and Alexandria. He added that, just as Korean students study Arabic as part of the regular school curriculum and as a second foreign language for university entrance exams, providing Egyptian students with access to Korean language education would help nurture stronger future-oriented ties between the two countries.

The Ambassador further emphasized that this year marks the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Egypt, noting the importance of education in fostering mutual understanding and promoting positive images of each other. He proposed cooperation to ensure that modern aspects of both countries are better reflected in school textbooks, thereby deepening mutual understanding among future generations.

Minister Abdel-Latif welcomed these initiatives and reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Korea. He explained that Egypt has successfully addressed challenges such as classroom overcrowding, teacher shortages, and student attendance, and stressed that the Ministry continues to work closely with countries around the world to advance the education sector. In this regard, he expressed commitment to deepen collaboration with Korea in areas such as technical education and the digitalization of the education sector. Both sides agreed to continue close communication and collaboration in the future.