REGULATION WATCH- Government to establish vocational schools accreditation authority: The ministers of education and manpower met yesterday to discuss legislation that would establish a vocational schools accreditation authority, according to a cabinet statement. The new authority would work to develop and apply accreditation policies for vocational schools and training academies in Egypt across for both government schools and private institutions, Deputy Education Minister Mohamed Megahed told Enterprise. The two ministries will be meeting with stakeholders in the coming few days to put the final touches on the structure of the organization and its role in developing vocational schools in Egypt, the statement noted.

A strategy to overhaul vocational education, build PPP schools: Once established, the new authority will work on a plan through 2030 to improve the quality of vocational education in all Egyptian schools. The authority will also focus on developing schools in collaboration with the private sector, with some 15 private-public vocational schools being planned for the first phase of the plan.

Legislation establishing the new authority has already won cabinet’s preliminary blessing. The final draft will be announced next week then sent to the House of Representatives’ agenda when they reconvene in October, Megahed says.

Background: The Education Ministry has been pursuing a long term strategy to develop the vocational training sector in Egypt, spanning through 2030, Megahed said. The government sought the help of the private sector and started a program that would see 100 vocational schools be established by 2030, ministry officials had told us in April.