CAIRO - In a bid to upgrade technical education, 130 Egyptian students, who have passed the preparatory school stage of education, will fly to Italy on September 9 on scholarships in the field of technical education. The scholarship scheme was organised in the context of a co-operation protocol signed between the Egyptian charitable foundation Misr el-Kheir and the Technical and Industrial Studies Institute in Italy. The fields of study include mechanics, power electronics and information technology, fashion and design. “The education is not restricted to receiving data and information, but it extends to include training and improving skills,” says Grand Mufti Sheikh Ali Gomaa, head of the foundation's council of secretaries. "At the present time there is an urgent need to build modern Egypt as Mohamed Ali, ruler of Egypt in the 19th century did when he sent 24 educational missions abroad that included 500 students," Sheikh Gomaa added. The foundation received 7,200 applications, of which only 130 applications have succeeded in gaining scholarships; students sat and passed certain tests before travelling, in accordance with rules of the protocol. The cost of the scholarships is estimated at LE 34 million (about $ 5.7 million), which is being borne by the foundation, in co-operation with the Italian partner, covering expenses of travel, study, subsidence, accommodation and Italian language courses. The duration of the study ranges between three and five years. First under-secretary of the Ministry of the Higher Education and Scientific Research Galal el-Gemey says this is the first tine a non-governmental organisation has contributed to upgrading technical education, which has always been considered as a governmental responsibility. The Italian Ambassador in Cairo Claudio Pacifico commented that daily life in Italy is similar to that of Egypt, and stressed that this development reflects the depth of the relations between the two countries.
