OPLAs Granted to Egyptian Students at British Embassy

British Council Egypt and Pearson Edexcel awarded 69 Egyptian students with Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards (OPLAs) at the British Embassy in Cairo, in the presence of the British Ambassador to Egypt H.E. Gareth Bayley, and a number of Egyptian officials.

The ceremony, which also featured appearances by acclaimed actors Karim Abdel Aziz and Hassan El Radad, celebrated the academic achievements of secondary school learners of the 2022 Edexcel IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations series.

The OPLAs contribute to the government’s initiatives to develop its education ecosystem to achieve sustainable development, observe its goals in the educational curricula and methods, and provide it in accordance with international quality standards to keep Egyptian society strong and coherent, according to a statement recently issued by the British Embassy in Cairo.

The OPLAs are divided into 3 categories, namely, The Highest Mark in the World, The Highest Mark in Africa, and The Highest Mark in Egypt to inspire other students to achieve educational excellence. In 2022, close to 1500 students from 550 approved schools from over 70 different countries are eligible to receive the student awards.

In his keynote address at the ceremony, H.E. Bayley said: “I am always proud to celebrate Egyptian academic excellence, especially in the context of UK-Egypt cooperation. Seeing young students put in the hard work and achieve the success they deserve is both inspiring and an encouraging sign of their future potential."

He continued: "The British education system is rightly considered one of the best in the world - I would say the best - and we are committed to continuing to deliver British educational excellence in Egyptian schools, strengthening our partnership with the Ministry of Education.”

Meanwhile, Kathryn Booth, Director, Pearson Middle East, said: “Investing in education and supporting learners can have a significant positive impact on a country's progress and development such as economic growth, increased civic engagement, social mobility, etc. By providing people with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities they need to succeed, countries can create a more prosperous, healthy, and just society for all.”

“As a global leader in education, Pearson has been providing high-quality qualifications to learners in Egypt, and the UK has been supporting the country's education sector through various initiatives. This partnership strengthens the ties between our two countries and paves the way for future collaborations. We take great pride in the outstanding achievements of our students, which reflect their perseverance, discipline, and diligent efforts. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to them, as well as to the teaching faculty and parents for their unwavering commitment and support,” Booth added.

In turn, Elizabeth White, Country Director, British Council said: “We are very proud to honor 65 young Egyptians with 69 awards at this year’s ceremony. The students are from 34 schools who participated in the October/November 2021 and May/June 2022 examination series."

"These students have demonstrated exceptional academic performance and dedication to their studies. We are delighted through the British Council’s partnership with the Ministry of Education and Pearson to be creating opportunities for Egyptian students to thrive in a global market and share their ideas and experiences,” White noted,

It's worth mentioning that OPLAs are presented by the exam body to learners outside of the UK who have achieved the highest subject mark in their country, region, and around the world.