Country director of the British Council in Egypt Mark Howard arrived in Egypt over a year ago as part of his journey with the council that spans over 25 years. He has worked in diverse locations including Spain, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Romania, Portugal, South Korea, Singapore, and Argentina while playing significant roles as country director, global head of teaching and regional director for the Americas. Howard spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly about the British Council’s milestones in Egypt across more than eight decades.
What were the functions you held since you took over?
Since joining the British Council in Egypt, one of my first major functions was an international forum at the Grand Egyptian Museum focusing on growing creative economies in Africa. This event brought together over 700 participants from 22 countries to discuss practical ways to develop the sector. We signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Culture and are now contributing to the development of Egypt’s national creative economy strategy.
Additionally, we launched the programme Teach. Engage. Aspire. in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Al-Azhar University. In 2023 alone, the programme reached nearly 13,000 teachers across 27 governorates, impacting over 5.5 million students. We also established a new English training centre in Luxor, supporting young women in Upper Egypt by providing access to quality training and better opportunities for employment and education.
The British Council marks its 86th anniversary in Egypt this year. What has been its biggest achievements during this journey?
The British Council’s journey in Egypt over the past 86 years has been one of partnership and growth. As our first office globally, we take pride in the connections we have built between the UK and Egypt, particularly in education, arts and culture. Key achievements include promoting English language learning through our five teaching centres in Cairo and Alexandria, which reach over 40,000 students annually, and delivering exams to thousands of candidates per year.
We have played a pivotal role in education reform, aligning closely with Egypt’s aim to enhance education as a foundation for development. Our teacher training programmes, which have reached over 100,000 educators nationwide, ensure we directly impact millions of students.
In arts and culture, we have supported the independent arts sector, investing in the Cultural Protection Fund to conserve and protect heritage. We also reach almost 5,000 individuals annually through our Creative Economy programme, with 70 per cent of participants being women and youth.
This year, as part of our broader 90th-anniversary celebrations globally, we are showcasing success stories from individuals whose lives have been transformed by our programmes. These stories highlight our deep-rooted commitment to fostering lasting partnerships between the UK and Egypt.
How many governorates have you been able to reach with regards to the training of teachers and children’s education? And what are your plans for the governorates you have not yet accessed?
Currently, the British Council operates in the 27 governorates across Egypt. Through our teacher training programmes, we have supported over 100,000 teachers, benefiting over 5.5 million students in public schools, including remote regions like North Sinai.
We also recently opened the English Training Centre in Luxor, empowering young women in Upper Egypt with access to quality education. Moving forward, we plan to expand our reach to underserved areas, focusing on equitable access to education, particularly for women and youth, to support employability and lifelong learning.
Our future plans include scaling up teacher training programmes to reach more educators nationwide and expand access to quality English learning, particularly for women and youth in rural areas. In the creative economy, we aim to enhance collaborations with the Ministry of Culture and other stakeholders to make the sector a key driver of sustainable growth.
We also plan to strengthen partnerships with Egyptian and UK universities, focusing on transnational education, research and student mobility to foster long-term collaboration.
What are the British Council’s programmes for government schools?
The British Council has a range of successful programmes for government schools, including the initiative Teach. Engage. Aspire. which helps teachers improve their English proficiency and teaching skills. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Al-Azhar University, our programmes are designed to ensure quality teaching from the elementary level and beyond.
We also address the decline in English teaching standards by providing robust capacity-building initiatives for teachers and fostering inclusive pedagogies. Additionally, we work with over 200 British Partner Schools, benefiting over 300,000 students through high standards of teaching and curriculum delivery.
What do you think are the opportunities and challenges facing education in Egypt?
Egypt’s young, growing population — 60 per cent of whom are under 30 — represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Economic pressures and declining English teaching standards pose significant challenges. However, the enthusiasm for learning and Egypt’s strategic focus on education as part of the government’s future vision offer immense opportunities.
By addressing skill gaps and expanding access to quality education, particularly in underserved regions, we aim to empower young Egyptians with the qualifications and skills they need for employability and international opportunities.
Egyptians display remarkable enthusiasm for learning and view English as a gateway to better career opportunities and global connections. This is reflected in the high demand for our English language courses and teacher training programmes. With strong foundational skills and a drive to improve, Egyptians are well-positioned to thrive in today’s globalised world.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 19 December, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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