19 - 25 September 2002 Issue No. 604 Economy	Current issue Previous issue Site map
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Recommend this page

The right education?

The egyptian educational system does not produce the type of graduates the market needs, a recent study by the Egyptian Centre for Economic Studies (ECES) has concluded. Based on random surveys of private sector views on the constraints they face in initiating and conducting business in Egypt, the lack of skilled labour and managerial staff rank high on the list of impediments.

"Not only is the education system producing the wrong mix, but also the wrong quality. Training is one way of compensating for these deficiencies, but that, too, is in need of significant reform," the study said.

Clearly, Egypt has invested heavily in expanding education. These efforts have paid off in greater enrollment across gender and geographical locations. However, it is also apparent that the system has not provided graduates with the necessary skills for the labour market.

Egypt focused initially on the extension of education for all. The government allocated public funds to building schools, improving the curriculum and, more recently, introducing technology. As the main provider of education, the government found it convenient to own, manage and supervise education facilities and processes. "While this approach may have been appropriate in the past, it is not in a more market-oriented economy," the study said.

Among a number of solutions suggested to improve the quality of the educational system in Egypt, the study underlines the necessity to allow the private sector to take a more active role in building schools. This policy would help meet growing demand and provide an answer to the treasury's inability to finance the country's educational objectives.

Finally, the study calls for additional reforms to shift the demand for labour from the government to the private sector. "This can be achieved in part by discouraging employment in the government sector. At the same time, attention should be given to the informal sector, which is the most important source of employment."

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