Egypt Min. underlines education significance to sustainable development

CAIRO, Feb 16 (KUNA) -- Egyptian Minister of Planning, Monitoring Administrative Reform Hala Al-Saeed on Saturday called for more attention to education and human element to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development.
This came in a speech at a conference entitled: "Education in the Arab World in the Third Millennium" under the patronage of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli and co-organized by Egypt's National Planning Institute, Kuwait's Arab Planning Institute and Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.
Al-Saeed noted that the education system in the Arab world at various levels and elements still suffers from many challenges, despite the efforts of the countries to raise the level of education in line with the requirements of development.
She pointed out that the participation of several parties in the organization of the conference "is the best evidence of the keen attention to the importance of education and its role in achieving the best levels of achievement in human development and the placement of Arab human capital in the place it deserves." The minister stressed the need to seize the opportunity to launch the conference to exchange views and experiences and provide appropriate visions and alternatives for policy-makers and decision-makers to contribute to the launch of Arab countries towards knowledge societies that contribute to support and achieve the goals of sustainable development.
At the same time, she added that education is a global issue of concern, noting that the United Nations efforts to achieve sustainable development have paid great attention to education on ensuring quality, equitable and inclusive education for all and enhancing lifelong learning opportunities.
For his part, the Egyptian Institute of National Planning Chief Alaa Zahran affirmed the Arab countries' efforts to develop the education system to face the economic, social and cultural challenges due to its importance in the progress of communities.
Zahran added that the issue of education is the "biggest case" in the Arab world, which requires it be a priority for policy-makers and decision-makers.
He called for drawing upon international experience and expertise so that the Arab countries themselves could improve their ranks among other world countries.
The conference will discuss how to restructure the education sector and its governance to overcome many of the challenges and roles of development partners in financing as one of the most important challenges facing education, including governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and international partnerships. (end) msh.aa