Florida State University researchers will help improve teacher education in Egypt as part of a project sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Faculty from the Learning Systems Institute (LSI) and the School of Teacher Education at FSU will work with the Education Development Center (EDC) on the Teacher Excellence Initiative, a five-year, $49.5 million USAID project.
The work will support the Egyptian government’s Education 2.0 program, which aims to transform the country’s education system by emphasizing skills-based learning and an expansion of digital learning. Through this initiative, USAID will establish undergraduate and graduate degree programs for primary-grade teachers at 15 Egyptian public universities and develop partnerships between U.S. and Egyptian universities.
In partnership with the USAID Teacher Excellence Initiative, the FSU team has undertaken a research study to evaluate current pre-service teacher education programs and course syllabi in Egypt. The primary aim is to align these programs, offered by public universities, with the Egyptian Teacher Competency Standards designed for in-service teachers. The study's implications are significant as they will guide stakeholders in supporting ongoing reforms in undergraduate teacher education.
The main objective of the USAID Teacher Excellence Initiative is to enhance the quality of instruction in pre-service teacher education in Egypt. The project aims to align teacher standards, curriculum and instruction in mathematics, science, technology and language arts (Arabic and English) with the goals of Education 2.0 in Egypt across all levels of education.
The USAID Teacher Excellence Initiative project focuses on improving the quality and relevance of teacher preparation in Egyptian public universities, ensuring that teachers possess the necessary skills to support student learning in K-12 schools across the country. FSU will offer technical assistance to review, revise and enhance the capacity of FOEs at 15 Egyptian public universities. This assistance will focus on updating undergraduate and graduate degree programs for elementary school teachers. FSU will also establish partnerships between the U.S. and five Egyptian universities and integrate educational technology into all teaching programs.
