Speaking at a healthcare supply chain event held on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Abdel Ghaffar said countries should shift from reactive crisis management to proactive planning to ensure sustainable healthcare services.

According to a statement from Egypt’s Health Ministry, the minister said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed major weaknesses in healthcare supply systems, including excessive reliance on imports, weak local manufacturing and limited real-time data visibility.

He said Egypt faced challenges during the pandemic related to medical imports and price fluctuations but responded with a comprehensive strategy to strengthen resilience.

The strategy was based on three pillars: digital integration through linking more than 5,000 healthcare facilities to a real-time monitoring system, expanding local pharmaceutical production to cover between 85% and 90% of domestic medicine needs, and strengthening regional cooperation.

Abdel Ghaffar said these measures enabled Egypt to maintain essential healthcare services during the pandemic, including intensive care and dialysis services, while also implementing major public health initiatives such as screening 60 million citizens and treating 5.5 million hepatitis C patients.

He added that pharmaceutical security has become a core component of national health security and stressed the importance of reducing external dependence and ensuring continuous access to medical products.

The minister said Egypt’s Drug Authority obtaining WHO Maturity Level 3 status strengthened international confidence in Egyptian pharmaceutical products and reinforced the country’s ambition to become a regional hub for medicine and vaccine production.

He also highlighted Egypt’s unified procurement system, saying it reduced the cost of hepatitis C treatment from $900 to $40 per patient.

Abdel Ghaffar called for stronger international and regional cooperation to build more resilient health systems based on integration, technology and sustainable local manufacturing.

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In a statement, the Ministry of Local Development and Environment said the new system will create a national environmental database for industrial facilities, covering emissions, fuel, water and energy use, waste data and export-related information linked to the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

Minister Manal Awad said the platform is designed to simplify registration and reporting procedures for industrial facilities and connect relevant government bodies through one digital portal, including the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, the Ministry of Industry, the Industrial Development Authority and the Ministry of Electricity.

She said the registry would help the government prepare detailed reports on fuel use across industrial sectors, identify non-compliant facilities and track emissions reductions resulting from environmental compliance plans.

The system will also enable authorities to calculate and monitor carbon emissions, including direct emissions from fuel and industrial processes, indirect emissions from electricity consumption and embedded emissions in exported products.

Industry Minister Khaled Hashem said the platform represents an important step toward accelerating the green transition in Egypt’s industrial sector and improving the competitiveness of Egyptian exports amid growing global requirements to reduce carbon emissions.

He said the digital link between the Industrial Development Authority and the environmental regulator marks a shift in industrial and environmental data management through interactive maps and sectoral and geographic analysis to support planning and decision-making.

The ministry said the new industrial environmental registry focuses on reducing emissions inside facilities and production lines, improving water and energy efficiency, and monitoring production inputs, including raw materials and intermediate goods.

Further development phases will link the platform to inspection and violation systems, interactive maps and other government bodies, including the Waste Management Regulatory Authority, the Ministry of Investment and the General Organization for Export and Import Control.

The meeting also discussed preparing a regulatory decision to require industrial facilities to register and update their data regularly, as well as possible incentives for compliant facilities.

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The move reflects Egypt’s ongoing efforts to diversify financing instruments, broaden its investor base, and secure sustainable funding sources for development priorities.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Finance said the new eight-year issuance, carrying a yield of 6.7%, attracted strong interest from international investors, with subscription requests exceeding the targeted issuance size by more than fivefold.

According to the ministry, proceeds from the bond sale will be directed toward financing development projects aimed at improving healthcare and education services, while strengthening investment in human capital.

The ministry added that Egypt is currently repaying more external debt than it is borrowing in an effort to reduce the outstanding external debt of budget-sector entities. It noted that the government is targeting an annual reduction in external debt ranging between $1bn and $2bn.

The statement also highlighted the government’s proactive management of geopolitical tensions and global economic challenges, saying these measures have helped reinforce investor confidence and sustain strong demand for Egyptian debt issuances.

The ministry further noted that maintaining access to stable external development financing sources has contributed to improving market sentiment toward Egypt and supporting confidence among international investors.

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During meetings with Varun Chandra and Minouche Shafik, economic, trade, and investment advisers to the British prime minister, Abdelatty highlighted Egypt’s macro-economic reforms, its “Industry 2030 Strategy”, and a “State Ownership Policy” aimed at empowering the private sector and stabilising the foreign exchange market.

The foreign minister also met with chairmen, chief executives, and representatives of UK investment funds, urging them to capitalise on Egypt’s free trade agreements and opportunities in the Suez Canal Economic Zone. He pointed to the government’s “Golden Licence” programme, which is designed to fast-track strategic projects, as a tool for companies seeking access to Middle Eastern and African markets.

British business representatives expressed interest in exploring new cooperation opportunities and expanding their investments, acknowledging improvements in Egypt’s investment climate.

In a separate meeting with the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, chaired by Emily Thornberry, Abdelatty discussed the upcoming formation of an Egyptian-British friendship group in the Egyptian parliament. Foreign Ministry spokesman Tamim Khalaf stated that Abdelatty expressed a desire for the Speaker of the House of Commons and committee members to visit Egypt to enhance bilateral coordination on both economic investments and ongoing regional challenges.

Addressing broader geopolitical issues during a panel at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), Abdelatty cautioned that regional escalation threatens international shipping and energy markets. He stressed that military solutions will only deepen crises, stating that Cairo is working with regional and international partners to support a US-Iranian negotiation track.

Abdelatty noted that recent visits by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Gulf nations underscored that Gulf security is an integral part of Egypt’s national security, whilst rejecting any violations of Arab states’ sovereignty. He reaffirmed Cairo’s support for national state institutions and political solutions to conflicts in Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon, adding that an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, remains the core of regional stability.

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The meeting was attended by Patrick Jean Gilabert, UNIDO Regional Director in Egypt; Jehan Bayoumi, UNIDO Deputy Regional Director; Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairperson of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone, alongside representatives from relevant ministries, government bodies, and development partners.

Participants reviewed the implementation status of the programme and highlighted key achievements across targeted industrial sectors over the past period.

Discussions also covered the programme’s six main pillars: industrial policy and governance, investment promotion, green industry, smart cities and sustainable industrial zones, value chain development, and adaptation to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The meeting further examined future action plans aimed at accelerating inclusive industrial development in line with Egypt Vision 2030 and the national strategy for industrial development and export growth, while enhancing the competitiveness of Egyptian products and expanding access to international markets.

Hashem said the Egypt Country Partnership Programme plays a central role in supporting the government’s efforts to achieve a substantial industrial and production transformation, noting that its projects intersect with multiple sectors to foster innovation and strengthen workforce capabilities within Egyptian factories.

He added that the programme also contributes to creating a more attractive investment environment and reinforcing partnerships between the public and private sectors.

The minister stressed that projects implemented under the programme align with the Ministry of Industry’s broader strategy to advance Egyptian manufacturing, highlighting UNIDO’s technical support through data provision and analytical tools that help policymakers assess progress and measure outcomes.

Hashem described the partnership as a successful model of international cooperation serving the ministry’s objectives and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing the support and facilitation necessary for UNIDO to implement its projects in Egypt.

He added that these initiatives contribute to localising advanced industries and strengthening Egypt’s position as a regional hub for sustainable manufacturing and exports.

Separately, Hashem held bilateral talks with Gilabert to discuss UNIDO’s ongoing and future projects in Egypt. The meeting was attended by Ahmed Maghawry, Assistant Minister for International Cooperation, and Hussein El-Ghazawy, Assistant Minister for Energy Affairs.

The discussions reviewed several active UNIDO projects related to green transformation in local industry, energy efficiency programmes, clean energy transition initiatives within industrial zones, and industrial waste management systems designed to support the circular economy.

Hashem underlined the importance of energy-efficiency projects, particularly those focused on water conservation. While awareness of renewable energy has increased within the industrial sector, he said greater attention is needed regarding efficient water use in industrial processes, given water’s importance to many key industries.

He noted that reducing water consumption and waste could help factories lower costs while contributing to broader sustainability objectives.

For his part, Gilabert praised the ongoing cooperation between UNIDO and the Egyptian government and the organisation’s alignment with national efforts to strengthen domestic industrial capabilities.

He revealed that UNIDO’s current portfolio in Egypt is the organisation’s largest globally, comprising 23 projects aimed at providing technical support to local industrial facilities in areas including energy efficiency, green transformation, and industrial development.

Gilabert added that these initiatives are funded by several international partners, including the European Union, the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility, and the governments of Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Japan, and Germany. He noted that preparations are underway to launch nine additional projects in the coming period.

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The meeting brought together Hussein Eissa, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs; Mahmoud Essmat, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy; Ahmed Omran, Deputy Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities for Utilities Affairs; Samar El-Ahdal, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Cooperation; alongside officials from several ministries and financial institutions.

Representatives from the World Bank Group also attended, including Yira J. Mascaro, Practice Manager for Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation for the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Saad Sabra, Country Manager of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Egypt, in addition to representatives from government bodies and development partners.

The session was held within the framework of the strategic partnership between Egypt and the World Bank Group, and forms part of efforts to diversify financing sources for infrastructure projects, strengthen public-private partnerships (PPPs), reduce implementation costs, and provide innovative long-term financing solutions.

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Hussein Eissa said the government’s direction towards introducing financing and guarantee mechanisms in local currency for infrastructure projects—particularly in the energy and housing sectors—would support Egypt’s broader economic reform agenda.

Eissa noted that Egypt requires additional infrastructure investments, especially in the energy sector, to support industrial development and agricultural expansion. He added that the government is seeking to channel further investments into these sectors while creating greater opportunities for private sector participation, particularly in renewable energy projects.

Mahmoud Essmat reiterated the state’s commitment to diversifying energy sources and expanding reliance on renewable energy, describing it as a priority in the coming phase in line with the objectives of Egypt Vision 2030.

Rostom stated that the meeting forms part of ongoing discussions with the World Bank Group on activating the infrastructure financing and guarantee mechanism, which he described as one of the institution’s innovative tools used in emerging markets to provide diversified, long-term financing solutions and encourage public-private cooperation.

He added that discussions are continuing with the World Bank on integrating financing structures in both local and foreign currencies, alongside implementing guarantee systems for infrastructure projects to improve financing efficiency and effectiveness.

Rostom expressed appreciation for the longstanding partnership with the World Bank Group and its continued support, noting that implementing such a mechanism in Egypt could pave the way for broader financing tools designed to reduce project risks, particularly as the country expands renewable energy investments.

For her part, Yira J. Mascaro stressed the World Bank Group’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Egypt amid the economy’s ongoing development, underscoring the institution’s support for implementing the infrastructure financing and guarantee mechanism to advance the country’s development priorities.

Saad Sabra said the proposed mechanism represents a joint initiative between the World Bank Group and the Egyptian government and could facilitate participation from additional international financial institutions and investors, further supporting infrastructure financing efforts in Egypt.

Sabra added that the IFC’s strategic approach focuses on expanding financing and investment opportunities while increasing private sector participation to help ease pressure on public finances.

During the session, World Bank Group officials delivered a presentation outlining the objectives of the infrastructure financing guarantee mechanism and its potential role in strengthening public-private partnerships, mobilising capital in both local and foreign currencies, and enabling the implementation of additional infrastructure projects without increasing pressure on the state budget.

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Madbouly made the remarks during the government’s weekly meeting at the Cabinet headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, where ministers reviewed a range of political, economic, and development files.

At the start of the meeting, the prime minister extended Eid Al-Adha greetings to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and the Egyptian people, wishing continued stability, prosperity, and progress for Egypt and the wider Arab and Islamic nations.

Madbouly also stressed the importance of maintaining nationwide preparedness during the holiday period through the activation of emergency operations rooms around the clock, ensuring the readiness of essential facilities and public services, and securing adequate supplies of goods and commodities at suitable prices.

He added that beaches, parks, and recreational venues are being prepared to receive citizens during the holiday celebrations.

Reviewing the week’s presidential activities, Madbouly highlighted President Al-Sisi’s inauguration of the New Delta Project along the Sheikh Zayed Axis in Giza Governorate, describing it as one of Egypt’s largest development projects completed within a record timeframe through coordinated efforts among ministries and state institutions.

The prime minister said the project underscores the government’s commitment to agricultural development, food security, and integrated economic growth, noting that extensive infrastructure works and significant investments have been directed toward the initiative.

“The New Delta Project provides agricultural land exceeding the cultivated area of four agricultural governorates combined,” Madbouly said, adding that “through a single project, Egypt is increasing its cultivated land area by more than 20%.”

He emphasised that the project is expected to create substantial employment opportunities for young people in agriculture and related industries, while contributing to higher production levels of strategic crops.

Madbouly also credited President Al-Sisi’s continued oversight of the initiative with helping ensure its implementation within a short timeframe, describing the president’s vision as instrumental in advancing major national projects across various sectors in recent years.

The prime minister further highlighted the role of private sector institutions in the New Delta Project, reaffirming the government’s commitment to expanding private sector participation in economic and development activities through additional incentives and facilitation measures.

During the meeting, Madbouly also referred to directives issued by President Al-Sisi regarding renewable energy projects and the importance of maintaining a balanced energy mix while reducing reliance on conventional fuels.

He stressed that the government will continue efforts to attract additional investment into the renewable energy sector, in line with Egypt’s ambition to become a leading regional hub for green energy.

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The economic stakes could not be higher. As Chao Wang, an education economist at UNICEF Egypt, pointed out at the study’s launch event in Cairo, Egypt, the country was previously suffering from a severely suppressed human capital dividend.

“The economic returns to education were far below the global average,” Wang noted, highlighting a sobering baseline.”With one additional year of schooling, your earnings only increased by 3.4% in Egypt, compared to around 9% globally.” The root causes—low attendance, shortened school days, and massive class sizes—meant children were schooling, but not learning. Reversing this trend, Wang argued, is not merely a social initiative but a macroeconomic imperative. Global evidence suggests that sustained improvements in learning outcomes could ultimately boost Egypt’s GDP by 5 to 36% over the long term.

The Mechanics of a Miracle

The sheer scale of the turnaround was detailed by Shiraz Chakira, Chief of Education for UNICEF Egypt, who stated unequivocally: “We are confident that the education system is being restored.”

The data presented by Chakira was little short of staggering. Student attendance, which languished at a dire 15%, has surged to 87%. Classrooms that once crammed over 100 students together have been eliminated entirely. In primary schools—the system’s most severe pressure point—average class sizes have dropped from 63 to 41 pupils. Furthermore, learning time has increased by 58%, and a targeted 60-hour remedial literacy program for grades 3 to 6 saw Arabic literacy scores jump by over 50% in just three months.

“This is not just one single change,” Chakira observed. “It is a coordinated system-wide effort.” He emphasised that the introduction of weekly, grade-linked assessments was the behavioural catalyst that drove students back into the classrooms, reconnecting the act of attending school with the tangible outcomes of learning.

Amine Marai, the study’s lead researcher and a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, underscored the unprecedented speed and fiscal efficiency of the reforms. Over just two years, the Ministry of Education tackled a massive deficit of roughly 467,000 teachers through a blend of redeployment and new hiring incentives.

More impressively, the state addressed its infrastructure bottleneck without breaking the bank. By creatively repurposing existing spaces and bringing underutilised facilities back into service, the ministry effectively created 98,000 “new” classrooms—a 20% expansion of system capacity.

“If you’re thinking about the equivalent of that in terms of monetary value,” Marai explained, “adjusted for inflation, it would be around $2.5 to $3bn. That’s billion with a ‘B’.”

The Macroeconomic View: Financing the Future

Despite the operational triumphs, the spectre of fiscal constraint looms large. Mahmoud Mohieldin, United Nations Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda and Egypt’s former Minister of Investment, delivered a sobering but pragmatic macroeconomic perspective.

Referencing Nobel laureate Esther Duflo, Mohieldin reminded attendees that systemic change requires three inseparable enablers: financing, technology, and behavioural incentives. “Without these, nothing will change in any field,” he stated. He issued a stark warning that failure to build the skills required for the future will subject Egypt to severe economic and social pressures.

Drawing on his extensive experience at the World Bank and IMF, Mohieldin urged the government to explore innovative financing mechanisms to sustain the reforms without exacerbating sovereign debt. He pointed to successful international models, such as Indonesia’s use of long-term sovereign sukuk for school construction, and Côte d’Ivoire’s debt swaps, which converted €400m in commercial debt into funding for 33 new schools.

“I had hoped that what is spent on education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure in my country would exceed what we spend on debt servicing,” Mohieldin remarked, stressing that education must not be crowded out by the state’s fiscal obligations. Looking forward to the AI-driven economy, he cited the IMF’s AI Preparedness Index, noting that technology alone is insufficient; true readiness demands aggressive, sustained investment in human capital.

A Global Blueprint

The international community is taking note of Egypt’s aggressive timeline. Natalia Winder Rossi, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, commended the “scale, ambition, and speed” of the undertaking. “Often, progress is incremental and systemic change can take a decade or more,” she noted. “What we’re witnessing here in Egypt is remarkable.” However, she cautioned that the country is only at the end of the beginning, noting that true transformation “will require stamina, focus, and continuous investment.”

Esohe Ebike, Country Engagement Lead for Egypt at the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), echoed this sentiment, admitting that the pace of the ministry’s work left her wondering, “Do these people sleep?” She confirmed the GPE’srecent approval of a system capacity grant for Egypt and positioned the country as a vital case study for the Global South.”Expect yourselves to be inundated with other countries seeking to learn from you,” she advised Egyptian officials, while outlining the GPE’s campaign to leverage $10bn  globally for education transformation.

The View from the Top: State Power and National Identity

The most forceful political mandates of the day came from the highest echelons of the Egyptian government, signalling that these reforms are viewed not merely as departmental policy, but as the cornerstone of national security and statecraft.

In a comprehensive and deeply philosophical address, Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif positioned the reform agenda as the ultimate measure of the republic’s global standing. Directing his remarks to the Prime Minister, Abdel Latif asserted that “education is the true measure of the strength of nations and their ability to compete globally.”

For Abdel Latif, the granular operational successes—the repurposed classrooms and the eliminated teacher deficits—are in service of a much grander geopolitical imperative. He emphasised that under the direct directives and comprehensive vision of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the state has fundamentally redefined human development. The goal is no longer just basic literacy, but the construction of a modern, resilient Egyptian citizen capable of navigating and dominating an increasingly complex global economy. The Minister made it clear that the state’s investment in human capital is non-negotiable, viewing it as the highest priority of the political leadership.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly reinforced this structural commitment, delivering an overarching mandate that bridged the gap between global integration and domestic sovereignty. Acknowledging the monumental shifts achieved by the Ministry of Education, Madbouly explicitly committed the full weight of the state apparatus to continuing these reform efforts.

The Prime Minister articulated a dual mandate for Egypt’s educational future: the absolute necessity of aligning with the highest international benchmarks, without sacrificing the nation’s cultural soul. The state, he declared, is dedicated to”building a modern educational system that aligns with the latest global standards, while preserving our national identity.” This delicate balancing act—integrating Egyptian youth into the hyper-competitive, AI-driven global workforce while fiercely protecting their cultural and historical roots—lies at the very heart of the government’s long-term strategic vision.

As the dust settles on this initial, explosive phase of reform, Egypt finds itself at a critical juncture. The classrooms are full, the teachers are at the chalkboards, and the data is pointing upward. The challenge now is maintaining the fiscal discipline, political stamina, and international partnerships required to ensure that this rapid turnaround evolves into a permanent economic renaissance.

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Speaking at the “Securing Egypt’s Future Through Education Transformation: New Evidence, Progress, and the Way Forward” conference, Abdellatif stated that over the past 20 months, the country has undertaken one of the boldest and most comprehensive education reform programmes in its modern history under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

The minister highlighted that the secondary education system has undergone a fundamental update with the introduction of a new Baccalaureate system, designed to provide multiple opportunities for students and ease psychological and social pressures on Egyptian families. He noted that an agreement was signed in London two days ago with the International Baccalaureate organization to review the educational frameworks and curricula of the new Egyptian certificate.

The broader reform agenda goes beyond expanding access to education to redefining what and how students learn, and how their outcomes are measured, Abdellatif said. The reforms include developing curricula to the latest international standards, expanding digital transformation and applied technology schools, building new schools, and upgrading technological infrastructure.

“We realised that every generation needs components and skills that must be reflected in the educational system to keep pace with the development of building a balanced personality,” Abdellatif said, warning that stagnation in the system leads to intellectual rigidity, slow responses to change, and the stifling of creativity.

The minister outlined ambitions to graduate a generation equipped to adapt to rapid global changes.

“We look forward to building a generation that masters programming and artificial intelligence skills, possesses financial literacy tools, and is capable of openness to the digital economy and non-banking financial activities,” he added.

Addressing the role of educators, Abdellatif stressed that improving teachers’ living conditions is at the forefront of the government’s development agenda, describing them as the true driving force of any reform project. He noted that the ministry has introduced training programmes at international standards in cooperation with Japan’s Hiroshima University.

Directing his remarks to the country’s educators, he said: “Every educational renaissance begins with a teacher whose mind believes in reform and whose heart beats with sincerity … thank you, you remain a pillar for Egypt in building the future.”

Abdellatif thanked Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly for his continuous support of the decisions and his field visits to schools across various governorates, which confirm the state’s commitment to making education a fundamental pillar of national development.

The minister also praised the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for its deep-rooted partnership in developing education and supporting children in Egypt. He stated that the cooperation proves international partnerships are a genuine catalyst for tangible and measurable change when governments and the UN work side by side.

Concluding his remarks, Abdellatif said: “The task of building a human being will remain the most difficult challenge, but it is the most enduring in its impact across time.”

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Speaking in the New Administrative Capital at a conference titled “Securing Egypt’s Future Through Education Transformation: New Evidence, Progress, and the Way Forward,” Madbouly stated that genuine investment begins with building human capabilities and that education quality is the primary determinant of a state’s economic competitiveness.

Addressing the country’s global standing, the prime minister told attendees, including economist Mahmoud Mohieldin, that Egypt is not satisfied with its current ranking of 161 on the Human Capital Index. While noting the figure is the highest in the immediate region among countries with similar conditions, he stressed the government’s ambition to significantly improve the ranking.

Madbouly noted that nations such as China, Singapore, and Malaysia required between 20 and 45 years of continuous effort to achieve their high educational indicators. Egypt is currently 10 years into its own reform programme, navigating complex global crises and domestic challenges, including 15 years marked by political uprisings and terrorism.

Despite current funding challenges, the education and health sectors continue to secure the highest annual state investments. Madbouly highlighted the role of educators, noting that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and the government recently approved financial incentives and salary increases to prioritise teachers above other state sectors.

“Investment in the teacher is a direct investment in the future of the nation,” Madbouly said, describing the Egyptian teacher as the primary pillar of the educational process and the element most capable of shaping national identity.

In the higher education sector, the number of universities has expanded from 50 a decade ago to more than 120 today. This growth includes new national, technological, and private institutions, alongside branches of international universities. Madbouly said curricula, which previously remained static for up to a decade between the 1970s and 1990s, must now be updated annually to prevent illiteracy in modern fields such as artificial intelligence and financial inclusion.

The conference, organised by the Ministry of Education and Technical Education in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), also reviewed recent independent data on the primary education sector.

According to the presented study, the proportion of Egyptian school children suffering from reading and writing difficulties has dropped to 14% from 45.5%, while daily classroom attendance has surged to 87% from 15%.

Average class sizes have also been reduced to 41 students, down from previous averages of 63, with some areas historically experiencing overcrowding of 100 to 120 students per classroom. Madbouly noted that 45 years ago, when the national population was 43 million compared to today’s 110 million, average class sizes in the distinguished public schools he attended stood at 43 students.

To verify these reported improvements on the ground, the prime minister said he conducts unannounced school visits during provincial tours to observe classroom dynamics and ask students to read directly from their textbooks.

Addressing the Minister of Education and Technical Education, Madbouly stressed the importance of sustaining these statistical improvements year-on-year. He added that long-term educational reform requires an institutional approach based on scientific evaluation and collaboration among state institutions, the private sector, civil society, and international development partners.

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