Egypt commits to tech partnership with Zambia to boost school education

Egypt has pledged to collaborate with Zambia to enhance technological integration in schools following Zambia’s pursuit of partnerships with Egypt and Malaysia, both known for their advancements in educational technology.

This initiative was proposed by Zambia’s Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary, Noriana Muneku, during a bilateral meeting with Egypt’s Minister of Education, Mohamed Abdel Latif, at UNESCO’s Digital Learning Week in Paris.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Muneku acknowledged Egypt’s progress in providing tablets and online exam capabilities to schools.

She said there was need for Zambia to leverage partnerships with countries like Egypt to integrate technology across its education system, aiming to equip every school with the necessary technological tools.

“It’s important to leverage partnerships with countries like Egypt, which have successfully navigated similar challenges. As Zambia prepares to pilot educational technology initiatives alongside five other countries under the Southern African Development Community, this collaboration is timely,” Muneku said.

In response, Latif pledged Egypt’s support to develop a blended learning method in Zambia, a project Egypt is advancing with backing from UNESCO and UNICEF.

He offered assistance in acquiring digital devices at competitive rates from Egyptian manufacturers.

“Experts are ready to establish a plan and begin initial meetings by mid-October 2024, with plans to travel to Zambia in 2025 to initiate the process,” Latif added, expressing optimism about the partnership given Zambia’s high literacy levels in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

Additionally, the Ministry of Education’s ICT Director, Victor Musangu, highlighted the importance of learning from the successes of Egypt and Malaysia to guide Zambia’s efforts in integrating technology into education and fostering a generation of technology entrepreneurs.

“We seek to understand the relationship between educational institutions and technology companies in Malaysia, the integration of entrepreneurship within the education system and the support provided to technology companies, as well as the strategies and curriculum that are in place to ensure students are prepared for entrepreneurship,” Musangu stated.

This partnership aims to drive Zambia’s educational technology initiatives forward, positioning the country as a leader in digital learning within the Southern African region.

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