Egypt, Japan Partner to Launch 20 Technical Schools Focusing on Healthcare

CAIRO — Inside the classrooms of the Nasser Institute Hospital, 240 female students are currently undergoing a mix of academic study and clinical practice. This secondary-level nursing program, which spans five years, serves as the pilot model for a broader bilateral initiative between Egypt and Japan.

Expanding Vocational Training

Egyptian Minister of Health Khaled Abdel Ghaffar and Minister of Education and Technical Education Mohamed Abdel Latif toured the facility this week alongside Hidetaka Matsu, chief executive of Japan’s Kyoto Ikueikan education group. The visit marked the ongoing implementation of a program designed to establish 20 specialized technical schools across Egypt.

The joint project aims to integrate Japanese educational methodologies into Egypt’s vocational system. The curriculum covers nursing, information technology, and elderly healthcare, fields identified by the ministries as areas of high demand within the labor market.

According to the ministries, the structure of the specialized schools follows the model currently in place at the Nasser Institute: three years at a technical secondary school followed by two years at a specialized institute. This path combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in medical facilities.

Upgrading Healthcare Education

During the inspection, Abdel Ghaffar emphasized the need to modernize nursing curricula and increase the use of international expertise. He directed officials to prioritize digital transformation within these institutions and enhance the quality of clinical training facilities.

Abdel Latif stated that the partnership is intended to align technical education with modern professional standards. The agreement includes the creation of 10 nursing schools, five information technology schools, and five schools dedicated to elderly healthcare.

While officials highlighted the long-term goals of the program, they did not provide a specific timeline for the construction of the remaining schools or disclose the total investment required for the project.