Gov’t inks PPP schools agreement with investors: The government has signed a public-private partnership pacts with a number of investors to build and operate schools with a total of 910 classrooms and an estimated cost of EGP 500 mn as part of the first phase of the program, the Cabinet said in a statement on its website. The first offering saw 24 land plots in six governorates awarded on 30-year usage terms to five consortiums. A second offering will take place in February.

Background: The government expanded the PPP schools program in September to include 1,000 schools and said phase two of the program consisting of 200 schools will be offered in a tender that was planned to take place last December. It isn’t clear, however, if yesterday’s announcements were for the second phase or another program.