Egypt kicks off the pilot project for teaching Chinese language in Egyptian schools (Photo: Egyptian Ministry of Eduction)
Megahed made his remarks on Sunday during the kick-off of the pilot project for teaching Chinese in Egyptian schools, which includes a training programme tailored for Chinese teachers who are scheduled to teach the language in the twelve selected schools.
The project is the result of a memorandum of understanding signed with China in 2020 to teach Chinese as an optional second language.
The programme was initially scheduled to begin in the academic year 2023/2024.
However, both sides have been keen on speeding up the measure and, as a result, pushed the process forward by one year, Megahed said in a statement issued following the opening ceremony.
The training programme is being held at the Confucius Institute located in Cairo University.
After the end of the training programme, the teachers will begin teaching the Chinese language in twelve schools located in Cairo, Giza and Menoufiya, the statement added.
French, German, Spanish and Italian is already offered as a second foreign language in public preparatory education in Egypt. The second foreign languages are taught in earlier stages in private and international schools nationwide.
The Egyptian education ministry is currently in the process of printing the first textbook for Chinese language instruction in middle schools, Megahed noted, adding that he had directed the ministry to develop curricula through which Egyptian students can learn about the Chinese language in an attractive and continuous manner.
He said "a lot of efforts have been made during the past few months so that the ministry can issue a textbook for students who are studying Chinese for the first time."
Chinese language has been taught in Egyptian universities since 2004.
A total of 16 universities in Egypt have either established Chinese language departments or teach the Chinese language within their curriculums.
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