The companies include Cisco, IBM, VMware, Valeo, AMS, Vodafone for Community Development, Microsoft, Google, Dell Technologies and Huawei, according to a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MICT).

With an initial budget worth $25 million, the DECI aims to train 3,000 students all schools across the country – from grade seven till grade 11 – in each of the coming five years starting from the 2022/23 academic year, said Information and Communication Technology Minister Amr Talaat said.

The drive aims to select top-performing school students and prepare them to make a leap in the area of communication and information technology in Egypt as well as explore new horizons in these fields, the minister added.

The MoUs are aimed at cooperating with the previously mentioned companies in preparing training tracks, providing virtual platforms and laboratories in related technological disciplines, and technological awareness in addition to organising online seminars for students of DECI.

The programme aims to equip youngsters with proven competence in emerging technologies and fulfilling the country's national vision of keeping up with the sciences and requirements of tomorrow’s labour market.

The initiative is co-implemented by MCIT and the Ministry of Education in cooperation with national and international entities specialising in different fields of technology.

The initiative complements other MCIT programmes aimed at introducing young people to IT tools to keep up with the digital era, and provides school students with in-depth training.

DECI participants study a foundation program that introduces the basics and tools of modern technology, helping hone their technology skills, the ministry said.

The students then enroll in a specialised track of their choice, in a number of areas, including digital arts, software development, network and information security, artificial intelligence, and robotics.

They also receive training on personal, life and leadership skills such as communication and presentation skills, time management, team building, planning and leadership skills, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

The ministry said the DECI's training schedule does not overlap with the school days or the exam dates announced by the Ministry of Education, as it is carried out through a hybrid model, with 75 percent of the training to be conducted online and 25 percent at training facilities located nationwide.