The Egypt STEM Schools Project is a significant initiative that has provided a springboard for the country’s youth to succeed through innovative science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Egyptian STEM Schools Project helped establish cutting-edge public high schools in Egypt.
Starting with two schools in 2011, there are now 14 schools across Egypt using this curriculum. There are plans to increase this to 27 schools in the next few years, with one school in each Egyptian Governorate, decreed by President Sisi, based on the success of the first two pilot schools.
The ESSP is a four year (2012-2016) $25 million cooperative agreement funded by USAID and implemented in Egypt with three US STEM Partners: 21PSTEM, TIES and The Franklin Institute. These Egyptian STEM schools teach a unique project-based curriculum focused on solving Egypt's grand challenges.
The project transformed Egypt’s only STEM school into a collaborative network that served as a catalyst for system-wide STEM education reform. The eleven model schools, established throughout the country, deliver comprehensive support to students, teachers, and administrators, as well as key policy, private sector, and community stakeholders.
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Through targeted awareness raising, institutional capacity development, teacher training, curriculum development, and student learning assessment, the STEM model schools serve as incubators for future leaders and innovators who will have the potential to advance research and development initiatives that fuel scientific invention and generate employment opportunities and economic growth.
World Learning, in partnership with the Franklin Institute, the 21st Century Partnership for STEM Education, the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM, and the Egyptian Ministry of Education (MoE), developed a network of eleven STEM high schools that embedded inquiry-based, student-centered pedagogy that integrated real-world applications and critical thinking and problem-solving into the Egyptian public education system.
Key Components of the Egyptian STEM Schools Project
- Design and development of curriculum and assessments
- Professional Development for Teachers, Administrators, and Ministry of Education
- Development of a web-based platform used to monitor student progress for curriculum learning outcomes
- Design and support of STEM School system-wide policies and governance
- Creation of manuals for all components of curriculum, assessment, and professional development in order to enable replication and scale-up of the STEM schools across Egypt
21PSTEM’s role in the project is the development of a new, projected-based, integrated STEM curriculum backward-designed based on Egypt’s Grand Challenges. 21PSTEM is also responsible for designing a new proficiency-based assessment system which includes newly designed multiple measures of college readiness.
The STEM schools teach a project-based curriculum focused on solving Egypt's grand challenges. Students develop innovative prototypes, working on projects motivated by Egypt's Grand Challenges - such as the lack of water.
Egyptian STEM students are now competing, and winning international science competitions. Some have received patents and honorary degrees, and many are now attending the world's top universities.
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This document, and those from other STEM schools, are sent to University admissions officers around the world, helping them understand the nature and quality of the STEM schools. Egyptian STEM school students have been admitted to many of the world's top universities...
Ancient Egypt 101 | National Geographic
Genesis International Schools: A Case Study
Genesis International Schools has established a reputation for academic excellence, and one of the key factors contributing to this is its STEM program.
Since its launch in the 2018-2019 academic year, STEM has been implemented as an integrated approach that requires the integration of different disciplines, including science, math, language arts, and ICT. STEAM enables students to relate and connect concepts across subjects and situations.
The end results are students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process.
One of the ways that the school has measured the success of its STEM program is by encouraging its students to participate in external competitions. For example, the school has had great success in the “Microsoft Climate Initiative to save the world in 2019 /CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECT” competition, where students worked together to develop innovative solutions to address climate change.
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Over the years, the STEM program at Genesis International Schools has seen remarkable progression. What started as an integrated approach has now become a full-fledged program, led by standards, and supported by visionary educators.
In the 2021-2022 academic year, Genesis International Schools has taken the STEM program to the next level. The program has become more structured and data-led, with a particular focus on robotics integration.
To ensure that the curriculum is aligned with the school’s objectives, a complete process of curriculum alignment has been put in place. Additionally, teachers have been trained to deliver the curriculum in a way that engages students and enhances their understanding of the subject matter.
Challenges and Considerations
This study discusses the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiative as the latest policy move undertaken by the Egyptian government to improve the education system and prepare future generations of professionals in these fields.
The study highlights the positive STEM learning environment but identifies a number of issues that could be threatening the quality and continuity of the STEM initiative in Egypt.
These relate to:
- the complex overarching bureaucratic legislation structure;
- challenges in curricula design and assessment criteria;
- teachers' training and system compatibility challenges; and most importantly,
- the shortfall in the availability of sustainable funding.
STEM Teacher Education & School Strengthening Activity (STESSA)
The STEM Teacher Education and School Strengthening Activity (STESSA) is a five-year $24.2 million project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Awarded to the 21st Century Partnership for STEM Education (21PSTEM), the project will create new, state-of-the-art undergraduate and graduate-level teacher and principal preparation programs at five Egyptian Universities.
Graduates from these new STEM degree programs will provide teachers and school leaders critical to the ongoing success of the STEM schools created as a result of the Egypt STEM Schools Project (ESSP).
Five universities from Egypt will participate with 21PSTEM to develop these programs. These include Assiut, Ain Shams, Mansoura, and Zagazig Universities, with a fifth to be added.
US university partners who will provide expert assistance include Arcadia University, California State University-Fresno, California State University-Bakersfield, California Polytechnic Institute-San Luis Obispo, Drexel University and Temple University.
Key aspects of the project include:
- Post-baccaulareate (5th year) preparation program development and implementation
- Undergraduate (4 year) STEM teacher program development and implementation
- Egyptian faculty professional learning communities and professional development
- Policy guidance to support the success and sustainability of the programs within the university and national governance structures
- Ongoing support for the STEM high schools scale-up and development
K-12 and University-based program development are intertwined Building Relationships Between Institutions for Teacher Development and Student Success Assiut ...
World Learning believes that the best hope for peace, justice, and sustainability lies in bringing people together. Throughout my years at World Learning, I have had the fortunate opportunity to meet with many of our participants, partners, and alumni-a global network of learners.
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