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 Egypt marked two years into the Sobhy Nasser by Photo 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 Egyptians 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 Cairo. 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 Ethiopia. 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.