President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi's visit to Germany, the launching of the UAE satellite and education were some of the issues which occupied the press this week. The editorial of the official daily Al-Ahram noted that the president's foreign visits aim to open new horizons for the Egyptian economy and attract foreign investment. In that context, the edit said, came this week's visit to Germany. The visit acquires great importance given the special nature of the Egyptian-German relationship as well as the strong German economy that puts it in fourth position worldwide. Besides, the edit added, there are very promising opportunities for investment in Egypt especially in the Suez Canal zone and the new administrative capital. “Egypt and Germany can cooperate in facing common dangers and challenges including terrorism and illegal immigration. Both states agree on the importance of reaching a political solution to the conflicts in the region especially in Syria and Libya as well as the importance of achieving comprehensive and sustained development on the African continent,” the edit said. Emadeddin Adib hailed the launching of the UAE Earth observation satellite, the first designed and manufactured in the Emirati Centre for Clean Technology. Adib viewed it as a prominent international and Arab achievement by all standards. “Khalifa-Sat is the first satellite made by UAE hands that are specialised in taking pictures of Earth and monitoring environmental developments,” he wrote in the daily Al-Watan. While he hailed the achievement, he criticised Iranian policies that aim at spreading sectarianism and ethnic beliefs. Adib concluded his regular column by questioning which is better for people: negative words or positive deeds, spreading tolerance or dispersing aggression, brainwashing public opinion or improving education, building the great Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi or a camp to train militias in Tehran? Abbas Al-Tarabili wrote that most education experts agree that the size of classes is the core and crux of the education problem. He asked how students can understand their lessons or how teachers can deliver in a big class. “The size of classes has reached 120 students in some schools in Giza; the average size is 80. That size is primarily responsible for the deterioration in education.” The student is not able to understand the teacher and the teacher is unable to teach,” Al-Tarabili wrote in the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm. Given that, he added, the problem is primarily in a deficiency in the number of classes. Thus, the solution is in building thousands of more classes. Perhaps the solution is to use pre-fabricated walls in building classes. This way would allow schools to build dozens of classes in a short time. But, Al-Tarabili wondered whether the state will increase the budget allocated for education to allow for building the needed classes. 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By Ahmed Kaoud, Al-Youm Al-Sabei By Ahmed Kaoud, Al-Youm Al-Sabei
