Watani 12 June 2016 Chairman of the Board 5 Ba’ouna (Pa’oune) 1732 and 7 Ramadan 1437 Editor-in-chief Issue 800 Year 16 Youssef Sidhom

Editorial Problems on hold Watani talks to Mohsen Mounir, Still losing Secretary-General of Synod of the Nile Silt the Nile Evangelical Schools Youssef Sidhom

A week ago marked two years into the Photo by Nasser Sobhy presidency of Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. This called for a review of the President’s achievements during the first half of his four-year term. The list left the majority of gratified and proud at the huge, diversified accomplishments on Teaching the the political, economic and social fronts. These successes promise a comeback for Egypt as a leading regional power, and assert that the country is on the right path towards a modern civic State and a revitalised economy, to a qualitative shift in freedom, social justice and human dignity. Evangelical I noted with much comfort the momentous contribution of our armed forces during the past two years in the fields of reform and development, besides its great original role in protecting the nation and defending it against the forces of evil terrorism. In a televised interview last week, President way Sisi offered the nation an account of the pledges he had made and honoured. He shared his perspective of the arduous work that awaits us in the near future. Sisi was his usual candid self when he insisted that Egyptians must work hard and stand up to the great challenges and hardships ahead. He promised that hard work, unity and the Nasser Sobhy rule of law can get us where we aspire to be. The accomplishments President Sisi mentioned promise a brighter future. The gigantic national projects which are either underway or in the planning stage include roads and infrastructure networks, energy production, a new administrative capital, development of the Suez Canal region, development of Sinai and Upper Mass cheating in Egypt’s nationwide Thanawiya Amma final in need. The Synod sees that there must be schools in Hurghada, the plan should be adopted by the State in its entirety not only Egypt, greening millions of feddans of desert examinations last week has left Egyptians shaken and livid at an Sharm al-Sheikh and Minya. Actually, there are negotiations to by the ministry. land, and attracting huge foreign investment education system in which inefficiency and corruption run wild. buy a piece of land in Hurghada for that purpose and the same to finance these projects and create millions Twelve Education Ministry officials have been detained after applies to Sharm al-Sheikh as we have received lots of requests How can the chronic problem of private tutoring, which of job opportunities. In addition to the physical answers to the finals were posted on Facebook; they face charges to establish a school there. parents opt to give their children in order to compensate for accomplishments, President Sisi also listed the of “intentionally harming public interest and funds”. As for Minya, it is one of the most vital cities in Upper Egypt, poor schooling and to guarantee good grades, be solved? Constitution-stipulated reform along legislative, As the nation engrosses in discussing the severely flawed but we don’t have a school there and we have received repeated Private lessons are a societal problem, but we tend to deal with it educational, health and social security lines, with national education system and its ethical backdrop, Watani requests for one. We are also expanding the scope of certificates the same way as we deal with many other ‘chronic’ problems we the aim of building Egyptian citizens fit to partake today takes a look at an alternative education structure, private we offer. Three years ago we opened an IGCSE programme suffer from: by looking at the symptoms without searching the in democracy and modernity, and measure up to education, which has for long decades existed alongside the supervised by the British Council in . This includes five root causes. We need to solve the root causes first. global progress standards. national system. Private education is today becoming increasingly classes with 20 students in each. The host of projects, plans, and objectives popular with all social classes in Egypt, to the point where many Is today’s teacher oppressed or oppressor? is worthy of the mobilisation of all Egyptians parents are willing to forego basic necessities to be able to enrol Do the graduates play any role in the Nile Synod schools once Both. He is oppressed because he is under so many pressures from behind it. They must work hard and ignore the their children in private schools. Among the most popular of they graduate? his employers, students and their parents, the entire community tides of scepticism that aim at breaking them, these schools are those owned and run by the Evangelical Synod There is an officially-registered association for the alumni of in fact. This drives him to deal with what should be a mission as confusing them and stealing their confidence in of the Nile. Watani talked to Rev. Mohsen Mounir, Secretary- Ramses College. We have compiled a guide that includes the a mere job. And he is oppressor because he seeks to earn more themselves, their nation and their armed forces. General of the synod. names of the graduates, and they also have an office for the money all the time and may neglect his duty and mission. As we step into the third year of Sisi’s presidency, “It is a fact that nations develop through knowledge, science alumni inside the school. They handle a number of roles such as hopes and aspirations are vibrant yet challenges and technology. As much as we are able to use science and its responsibility for a nursery for the children of the staff. It is no secret that our society today suffers from a serious are pressing; serious work is an inescapable tools we take our place among civilised nations. This is why problem of declining morals. Can it be overcome through necessity. it is on top of my priorities that our schools keep up with the What is your opinion of the current curriculum of the managing ethics and morals as part of the educational There is one national project, however, that I technological tools that help the education and learning process,” Ministry of Education? Do you think it needs improvement? process? missed finding on the long list of giant projects Rev. Mounir began. My opinion is that teaching is not based on textbooks alone, We all suffer from this problem, simply because our sons and cited by President Sisi. This concerns the Nile but is acquired from the school and teachers. The Ministry’s daughters are part of this society and they are affected by what silt which is kept by the Aswan High Dam from To start with, please tell us the history of the schools affiliated curriculum includes topics chock-full of unnecessary details goes on in it. The worst cases are those where there is a mix-up reaching the lands of Egypt downstream. Last to the Evangelical Church’s Synod of the Nile. and mainly depends on rote learning, not on understanding and between freedom and chaos. People say whatever they want to November I tackled this problem under the title The schools were founded when the Evangelical Church started creation. This does not make for a good education. say without considering the manner, time or expression so the The Nile silt we are losing [http://en.wataninet. its service in Egypt. The slogan of the Church is “Caring for situations turn to chaos. Regrettably, we face this problem not com/opinion/editorial/the-nile-silt-we-are- human beings… All human beings”, meaning that it provides How do the Nile Synod schools handle this predicament? only with students but also with many parents when they deal losing/14948/]. Ever since the Aswan High its service to everyone who needs it without any discrimination We teach the ministry’s curriculum, of course; it is obligatory. with the school. We always do our best to contain situations to Dam was built in the 1960s, it has served to on any basis. This is why the Protestant Evangelical Church in On the other hand we deal with the best publishing houses so avoid clashes. Realistically, not everyone can do that, but our control the waters of the annual Nile flood Egypt began its mission in Egypt at the close of the 19th century as to have complementary material to enhance the innovative managers are distinguished by their abilities to listen, contain the that pours down from the Abyssinian Plateau by founding a clinic and a school. The idea of founding series of streak in children. We also arrange for regular training courses situation, provide clarifications and solve the problems. in . The dam saved Egypt from the schools was thus born. We began to establish schools in towns for teachers to train them in applying new methods of teaching. hazards of low floods that brought on drought, and villages, and now we have 23 schools in ten governorates How do you deal with non-Christian students without and high floods that threatened lives and all over the country from Mansoura in the north to Luxor in the Is the ministry improving the education process so as to keep making them feel alienated because the school is affiliated to homes—such hazards are today history. It south. up with the technological evolution? the Evangelical Church? also helped Egypt generate generous amounts The ministry must update the education system, but it shouldn’t We provide our services to everybody regardless of religion. They of electric power. The downside of the High Where was the first school founded? start with the older classes because how can they be required to are not especially geared towards Christians or non-Christians; Dam, however, is that it has deprived Egypt The first school was the Assiut American College founded in suddenly switch to modern methods of learning and technology they are provided equally for everyone who needs them. Some of the silt carried by the annual floodwaters as 1901 when the first American Mission came to Egypt. What is when they did not start with the basics? Only those who use these schools, because of their locations, have more non-Christian they make their way down from Africa. This today the Ramses College for Girls started off as the American in the normal sequence of their schooling years can achieve good students and staff. We give the same importance to religious silt is rich in natural nutrients and minerals; it Mission College for Girls in 1910, and this was followed by results. studies of both Christians and non-Christians and support them used to settle on Egypt’s Nile Valley and Delta several schools in other parts of the country. by other activities that improve ethics without referring to any and cover the land with a renewable layer of What is your vision on how to reform the educational process religious text. soil that endowed the land with the legendary There is a huge demand by parents to enrol their children in in Egypt? We do the same in religious studies by providing the same values fertility that made it ideal for agriculture. For Evangelical schools. Why is this? This is one of the most difficult questions. It is easy to talk about and ethics and providing a religious reference so that the student the past 45 years the silt has not been able to Since our target and the reason for founding the schools is to reform but very difficult when it comes to application. So far, gets the information both ways. We are very keen to teach children pass through the High Dam, and has instead serve the human being, we care about education and ethics in our practical indications don’t reflect any serious official endeavour the values of justice, love, peace and cooperation, and all these piled up deep in Lake Nasser, the reservoir schools. We have been able over the years to enhance these in to reform education because the know-how is missing. We don’t concepts don’t necessarily need to be backed by religious texts. south of the dam, affecting its storage capacity. all our schools so it has become something that distinguishes us, have comprehensive systems on when and how to start, or how The Nile Valley and Delta agricultural lands and this is why parents trust us. We conclude from the comments to phase out the current system. Reforming education starts with A few years ago there was an initiative by the ministry to have been deprived of that rich silt. we receive from parents that they could have sent their children the strong belief of educators and politicians that the country will include the topic of ethics in the curriculum, but it was put on When President Sisi reviewed the long-term to the most expensive schools, but they chose the Evangelical never achieve any development without good education; and it is hold. Do you think if applied it would be beneficial and could national projects currently underway, he said Church schools because they cared about the ethics as well as not only the job of a minister or the role of a ministry but it is the replace the subject of religion? that this generation was planting a seed the fruit learning. responsibility of the entire State and community. It is preferable to keep the subject of religion and add to it that of which will be picked by our children and We do our best to keep schools fees affordable for the middle The other thing is, we don’t have to start from scratch. Many of ethics. If we cancel religious studies, it would give a wrong grandchildren. In the same context I point out that class, and we also provide some advantages based on internal countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore, had the same problem impression that the State is playing down the role of religion we owe future generations not to saddle them with initiatives and other initiatives by the Ministry of Education. and managed to achieve great improvement in education; we can in our society, and perhaps this was the reason for putting the the grievous problem of the Nile silt, a problem benefit from their experience. Most important, however, is that subject of ethics on hold. that if not tackled now is sure to aggravate beyond How do you manage to give measure. Even though some experts insist that the priority to the process of Relations between the Ministry problem is not a serious one, other experts argue education over that of merely of Education and private that the problem of the Nile silt must be promptly imparting knowledge in your Rev. Mounir, right, education is adversarial at the addressed. schools? with Sobhy best of times. What do you think Curiously, a former Ministry of Irrigation We are keen that our schools is the reason for this? source declared that a Japanese company had should not merely offer a good The ministry must realise that proposed to Egyptian authorities a project academic teaching/learning private education is part of the that aims at benefiting from the accumulated process but should offer a system and not outside it, and silt to reclaim millions of feddans for organic superior education that prepares that it is an investment in human agriculture, the yield of which can be exported to our students to lead full, fruitful resources. But the ministry tends countries outside Egypt. Yet the project never saw lives. I know that many schools to deal with private education as light. Another agriculture expert divulged that focus on academic excellence and though it were a strange entity, years ago a group of foreign investors proposed ignore the more holistic education not a key part of the educational a project to recover the silt from the High Dam process, but we are keen to provide process. reservoir so that Egypt can have its need of it and and enhance both. We apply strict I can’t deny that some school export the rest to countries that need to boost the standards in behavioural issues proprietors are exploitative and fertility of their agricultural land. He said the and never tolerate any breach; arrogant, and are thus part of the project did not meet approval. we communicate continually reason why the ministry—and Once again I put forward the issue of what with parents and we teach values many in our community, for that to do with the Nile silt, an issue long placed on and proper behaviour, including matter—are hostile to private hold. This time I present it directly to President etiquette. education. Sisi, hoping it finds its way to a specialised study and to the national project that it warrants. Do you have any plans to Finally what would you like to The generation that built the High Dam must increase the number of schools say to teachers? shoulder its historic responsibility vis-à-vis future in light of the high demand? I would like to say that what we do generations. Yes, there is a plan for the regions is a mission not a job. 12 June 2016 Watani International 2 Ramadan for children

“Ramadan ornamentation” was the theme title of a recent art workshop for children held at the 18th- Sanaa’ Farouk celebratory mood is concerned. century Islamic house of Beit al-Sennari, which is affiliated to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and is used as The aim of the Beit al-Sennari workshop was to preserve the lovely traditions associated with the holy its Cairo cultural venue. month. The young participants learned how to design and create simple artistic handicrafts inspired by The two-hour workshop was aimed at teaching the participants—15 girls and boys aged 6 to 10—how to use simple folkloric heritage. The teacher Saeed Owais, a graduate of the faculty of art education, has previously given several materials that can be found in any home to make attractive Ramadan ornaments. Cardboard paper, glue and pins were artistic workshops and has made marionette puppets. used to make origami-style crafts, streamers, and toy lanterns to decorate homes and streets during the holy Muslim As Ayman Mansour, manager of al-Sennari House, said: “We aim at reviving the activities that will help people month of Ramadan. learn more about their history and heritage.” Ramadan, which began Monday 6 June, is the month during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. Despite Beit al-Sennari was built in 1794 by Ibrahim Katkhuda al-Sennari, a Sudanese occultist. It was used to house many the fast, it is a time for festivities and intensive feasting and socialising that put it in a class all of its own where of the French artists and scholars present in Cairo at the time and became a centre for the French scholarship mission.

President inaugurates expansion at MOPCO, Dumyat Pumping fresh blood into Egypt’s economy

No question, Egypt is in dire need of new projects to pull it out of the economic Mervat Ayoub the MOPCO project. “This project helps achieve Egypt’s development goals,” he doldrums in which it has been swamped since the 2011 Arab Spring. says, “and will help in the desert cultivation project termed the Million-and-a-Half President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi’s recent opening of a number of large projects impact by the factory, including a ban on the dumping of wastewater. However Feddan Project.” He says the MOPCO expansion provides many job opportunities, throughout Egypt was thus cause for general optimism. Among these were several protest heated up again and in November 2011 the government ordered the closure and has no negative environmental impact. “It operates according to state-of-the- in Dumyat (Damietta) on the northern tip of the Nile Delta, where the eastern of MOPCO’s Dumyat plant and the suspension of any expansion. art environment-friendly technology,” he says. branch of the Nile flows into the Mediterranean. They included the inauguration MOPCO took its case to court which ordered a new report by a committee of Salah Hafez, former head of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation of the expansion of the Misr Fertilisers Production Company (MOPCO) factory Mansoura University professors. This study came out in January 2012, and declared (EGPC), says that fertiliser projects are an urgent need during the current period at the Petrochemicals Compound for Fertilisers, and the military hospital in New the factory had no adverse environmental impact. The plant was reopened by court in which Egypt faces food deficit. “Such projects help farmers raise agricultural Dumyat City. Dumyat is a renowned centre for manufacturing quality furniture in order. yield especially for strategic commodities such as rice and wheat,” he says. On Egypt, and the President gave the starting signal for the construction of the new Ownership of MOPCO is divided among the National Investment Bank, 12.5 per a wider economic perspective, Mr Hafez says, the MOPCO expansions send the state-of-the-art Dumyat Furniture City in the district of Shata and inspected the cent; Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), 30.5 per cent; Misr world a message that Egypt remains an investment-attractive, export-oriented Nile Transportation project. Insurance Company, 2.58 per cent; Misr Life Insurance Company, 2.85 per cent; economy. Nasser Social Bank, 3.27 per cent; National Bank of Egypt, 6 per cent; Agrium The special attention given to fertiliser projects in Dumyat, Alexandria and Turbulent history Inc., 26 per cent; Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP), 3 per other Delta governorates, economic expert Rashad Abdu says, aims to supply President Sisi assured the people of Dumyat and all Egyptians that the State cent; Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), 7.6 per cent; and Egyptian farmers with high quality local fertilisers, thus cutting on fertiliser imports would construct no project that would put Egyptians at any environmental risk. He Natural Gas Company (GASCO), 5.7 per cent. and the foreign currency spent on importing them. In addition, the expansions warned Egyptians of agitators who constantly spread erroneous information about The State supplies MOPCO with the natural gas needed for the plant’s operation in MOPCO factory increase production in such a way that creates some 7,000 major projects, MOPCO included, to mislead the public into demanding that these and also as raw material for the urea production, at a price equation of USD5 per job opportunities inside and outside Dumyat, and allows for exports to increase projects should be halted. 1MMBtu (1 million British thermal unit); the price might reach USD9 according Egypt’s foreign currency revenue. The President said the MOPCO project complied with all environmental to the fluctuation of urea price on the global market. Monthly energy bills are paid Not all see the project as problem free, however. Professor of Economics at requirements, and suggested that a committee of Dumyat representatives be formed in US dollars. Mansoura University Mukhtar al-Sharif is critical of the copious consumption of to conduct regular checks for monitoring the plant’s environmental impact. fertilisers by Egyptian farmers and peasants. “This pattern of consumption ought President Sisi was alluding to the turbulent history of MOPCO’s Dumyat fertiliser Thousands of job opportunities to be rationalised,” he says. “Currently, farmers use much more fertiliser than the plant. The company was founded in 1998 according to law number 8 of 1997. The MOPCO fertiliser plant provides thousands of job opportunities. The first land needs, under the belief that it leads to better yields. We need to raise awareness In 2006, the Canadian fertiliser giant Agrium formed a joint venture with expansion of its production lines started operation in June and December 2015, that this is not the case.” Egyptian companies that included the State-owned ECHEM and EGAS to producing more than 200,000 tons of urea. The second expansion, President Sisi build a nitrogen fertiliser plant to produce urea on 400,000 square metres said as he inaugurated it, was a new step along Egypt’s road to advancement and Managing industrial waste allocated by the government to the project. In 2007, the company received development; it would raise the factory production from the current 650,000 tons The environmental impact of the fertiliser factory, a heated issue over the past permission to build close to Ras al-Barr, a resort town on the Mediterranean of fertiliser to a projected 1.35 million. This will meet the local market’s need of few years, was addressed by Environment Minister Khaled Fahmy when he coast near Dumyat. In 2008 local fishermen and resort developers, fearing high-quality fertilisers and will be exported to foreign markets, which represents accompanied President Sisi at the inauguration of the MOPCO expansion. Dr the new plant would pollute the environment and affect their livelihoods and an added value to the Egyptian economy. Fahmy said the plant had been granted environmental approval in 2005, and that projects, waged fierce protests. The sum of USD1.050 billion needed to fund the recent expansion was provided periodical follow-ups would be conducted to gauge MOPCO’s environmental Public pressure led the government to assign two fact-finding commissions to by loans from 22 local banks; in addition, USD910 million came from self-funding impact. The factory’s industrial wastewater treatment plant, he said, conformed to investigate the environmental impact of the factory. Since they issued conflicting by MOPCO’s shareholders. Total investment in the project amounts to USD2.5 environmental standards, and the latest checks conducted last March confirmed the results, the parliament decided to play it safe and blocked the Agrium project. billion. stability of the area’s ecosystem. He demanded that MOPCO install environmental Even before the parliamentary vote, the company, backed by Canadian authorities, Studies estimate annual revenues at USD300 million according to the cheapest sensors to further assure the residents of Dumyat that all environmental hazards threatened Egypt with international arbitration. The dispute was resolved in August price of urea on the global market, with an expected increase in revenue in the were under control, and called on local residents to participate in monitoring the 2008 with a share-swap deal in which Agrium handed its project over in exchange coming period to reflect the global increase in prices. Around 60 per cent of the environmental impact of the project. for a 26 per cent stake in MOPCO. The deal was made with the expectation that factory’s urea production is to be exported according to long-term supply contracts Dr Fahmy said the Environment Ministry’s plan to manage industrial waste in MOPCO would construct two additional production facilities at a new site just west signed with 20 countries. After full operation of all the factory’s expansions, the all public and private sector factories had started a few years ago. The disposal of of the original Agrium site. annual urea production is expected to reach 6 million tons whereas the needs of industrial wastewater into the Nile had already been halted, he said; what remains the local market do not exceed 4 million tons, part of which are supplied by other was to halt the disposal of such waste into irrigation canals and drains. Reopened by court order fertiliser plants. Liquid waste resulting from industrial plants, he said, was treated through a Protests against the project resumed in 2011 in the wake of the Arab Spring. In zero sludge treatment system which involved the complete recycling of industrial June 2011, the Ministry of Environment formed another fact-finding commission Rationalising fertiliser use wastewater. The treatment plant had been installed, Dr Fahmy said, and operational which recommended a series of measures to reduce any harmful environmental Mahmoud Nazeem, former Deputy Minister of Petroleum, is full of praise for trials were underway.

Watani International editorial team: Dalia Victor, Donia Wagdy, Lydia Farid, Nivert Rizkallah, Sherine Nader Copy editor: Jenny Jobbins Layout editor: Heba Adel