Encouraging excellence
LAST Wednesday, Mrs Suzanne Mubarak innaugurated Cairo's 19th International Children's Book Fair at the Nasr City fair grounds. This year's fair includes 280 stalls in which books from 22 countries are being displayed.
At the opening, Mrs Mubarak delivered a speech, and met prominent writers involved in the field of children's literature, conducting an open dialogue with them. "We are now at a stage of work whose primary aim is an outstanding Egyptian child," Mrs Mubarak said. "This is now our responsibility and our mission -- to shape this child's mind and spirit so he can face the challenges of his age."
Government institutions and publishing houses should be partners in sharing this responsibility, she said. "A scientific approach is the only way forward and excellence in all stages of work in producing children's literature will ensure success in educating and entertaining our children."
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Mrs Mubarak announced a Girls Education Initiative to be implemented in seven governorates -- Giza, Beni Suef, Assiut, Minya, Beheira, Fayoum and Sohag.
Mrs Mubarak, who heads the advisory committee of the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood, said the initiative is part of the national plan for girls education included in the country's five-year development plan, which aims at educating half a million girls at a total cost of LE157 million.
