Dr. Hossam Badrawi Official Website
Political thinker Dr. Hossam Badrawi in an interview with “Al-Ahram Gate”
– The new education system is incomplete and incomplete..but it is a brave step from the government that deserves to be saluted
Reconciliation with the Brotherhood means going back 10 years
– We are late in the educational development file, but we have a golden opportunity to catch up with the developed countries
– I am not worried about the financing of the new education system .. and alarming numbers were spent in previous years without benefit
– Sustainability of work is a main condition for the development of education.. and we must build on what has gone before
– There is no such thing as “Arabization of language curricula”… and the media gave an unrealistic picture of the issue
– Without a supportive media and a supportive state, there will be no progress in education..and “those who do not think digitally have no place in the future.”
– There is no president who governs without a popular backer… and if the Egypt Support Coalition turns into a party, it will be short-lived
– Party life is “sufficient”… and the president does not currently need a political party
– I have not communicated with Mubarak since his release from prison .. “And may God give me justice”
– I do not know the fact that former President Mubarak wrote his memoirs.. and he is optimistic about the future of Egypt
Dr. Hossam Badrawi, a political thinker, took upon himself the task of calling for change throughout his time in the Mubarak regime, whether through his leadership position in the National Party, or as a deputy in Parliament for several sessions, or in the field of civil work, raising the banner of reform and torches of enlightenment, and calling for arranging the house from within, He did not care for a moment about the fate of the Mubarak regime if January 25 failed, and did not hesitate to offer any advice or advice that would restore the path to the right path once again. He is trusted and respected by millions up to the present moment, so it was not surprising that he was named “Man of the Storm”, given the role he played in the most dangerous and accurate periods in Egypt.
For many years, the political thinker, Dr. Hossam Badrawi, head of the Union Party and the former Secretary of the dissolved National Party, remained concerned with the issue of developing education in Egypt, passionate about all its details, closely following all its outcomes, aspiring to achieve an integrated vision and strategy that could advance the country forward. Motto: “No country can advance without real education.”
On the new education system, the economic and external challenges facing the state, calls for reconciliation with the Muslim Brotherhood, the weakness of political parties in Egypt, and behind the scenes of the rule of former President Mubarak, Al-Ahram Gate conducted an interview with Badrawi, to get acquainted with his vision and position in these files…and to Dialogue text.
Hossam Badrawi
**First, what is your assessment of the new education system announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tariq Shawky?
In fact, I am amazed at those who call it a new education system, because this means that society has not followed up on Egypt’s 2030 vision in education, and if we follow that vision that was issued about 3 years ago, and in which I had the honor of chairing a group of 70 experts, to develop the vision and interacted with about 500 A thousand people on Facebook, and we ended up with an integrated vision, including goals, sub-goals, implementation methods, time periods, budget and responsibility of each party, indicators for the success of this goal, and a vision for Egypt at least for the next 15 years. Who sets the policies are there?, and we have come to the conclusion that every government or minister comes starts again, from the beginning stage, we do not build on top of the goals of the past, the vision is its main value that no demolition occurs, and that it determines the course of education, and this is a task with a long story behind the goals And measurement indicators, and that there should also be technological empowerment in the sense that he thinks, studies and studies in a digital way, so that a person who is capable of pluralism, proud of his country’s history, passionate about building its future, capable of global competition, respecting difference, and able to work anywhere in the world, will leave the system.
Therefore, what I would like to emphasize is that the new education system is not new, but it is a practical implementation of Vision 2030, which was approved by society and announced by the state.
** I understand from your words that the vision announced by the Ministry of Education is incomplete and incomplete?
We want to agree that the step taken by the government is a very courageous step, because it seeks to change, but the vision is definitely incomplete. Unfortunately, the idea cannot be implemented without the media, a supportive society, and a state that fully supports the regime. This will take me to the political side, as it is of the same importance as the side. The technical, because we cannot do anything without explaining to the parents, and sending the message to the media, because any new system may have errors, and there is likely to be resistance from those who will try to keep the situation as it is, so it is a brave step from the government, The most prominent from my point of view is that the method of change must be looked at to move to decentralization, to make the school a real place for the manufacture of conscience. It is possible for the school to produce doctors, engineers and scientists, but with polluted ideas and they become killers used by ISIS and other extremist takfiri organizations, so what I would like to emphasize It is the industry of conscience, and it is a very important issue because it embarrasses normal people, and I was hoping that the file of media, culture and youth would be included in the file of two entities, because they are able to create conscience.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tariq Shawky, announced part of the vision, which is technological empowerment, related to the use of technology in education, and making technology available to everyone at no cost, but the rest of the vision has not yet come together, which talks about how to manage education, how to move to decentralization, and choose an administration that works In an efficient and sustainable manner, what the government has taken is a very good step, but the vision has not touched the second part of empowerment, which is the student, and how is his conscience formed?, and how does he become together? Meaning that he practice arts, sports and other activities, and that the school climate is qualified for that, in order for the school to produce Olympic champions, artists and stars, and this will not happen without the beholder and the teacher who is able to achieve this goal.
Hossam Badrawi
** Are we too late in setting a clear vision and strategy for developing the education file in Egypt?
Yes, we are late, but we have a golden opportunity now, which is the presence of technology, which made knowledge available at no cost and in new forms, the whole world is changing its education systems, and we are currently standing with the world at the moment of change, we do not have to pass 50 years like Malaysia, or 70 years like England to advance in education, we have a new shortcut, and we have an opportunity to ride with others and move forward, yes we are late, but we have created a golden opportunity with technology and what it has made available to humanity.
And I say it frankly, the main reason for our delay in the education file is the lack of sustainability of work. Every government comes from the first and new, and any new minister thinks that he is the only one who understands. Policies must be sustainable and achieve goals, and there should be transparency in announcing this to the community. It is necessary to involve people in it.
** Do you expect the new system to change the future of education in Egypt?
The new education system will change the shape of education in Egypt in the future if it is completed, because the use of technology is partial, but building conscience requires other things. Young people do not respect their past, do not believe in the possibility of their present, and do not trust the future. Education, media and culture need to emphasize all the time on the honorable history of our country, and there must be a sense of pride in the value of our country and our history, and that we have confidence in tomorrow, and this does not come from a vacuum but as a product. Action takes place from politicians, the government, and also the school, so that the action is positive.
** The issue of funding was raised as one of the most important main elements in that system.. Do you think that spending on that vision will be an obstacle to the government?
The numbers are terrifying, if we see how much Egypt has spent on the education file over the years, because there is an amount of money that was spent but was not spent on a successive cumulative building, a “project that ends”, and the matter remains as it is. I am not worried about funding because the Egyptian society and the government are able to finance, And international donor institutions give us money to develop education, but unfortunately it was spent on aspects that no one benefits from in society, as we are geniuses in the beginning of things and not finishing them as required.
** Do you think that the use of technology and tablets in the educational process will be in the interest of students?
During my tours of schools in the poorest places, I felt that all children are able to use technology, as Egypt has more than 100 million smart phones, and this means that all people use smart phones, it is just that people realize that this is a way to make knowledge It is available to the student all the time and without cost, “and whoever does not think digitally has no place in the future, yes, he will start in first secondary school, but I want him to start from the nursery so that the society is technologically possible.”
Hossam Badrawi
**Does the new system end the “bogeyman” of fear and dread for students from high school?
Which is better for the student, an exam in one moment that determines his future, or an accumulation over 3 years, definitely the cumulative system, people are worried, because when a cumulative system was implemented in 2002 and 2003, private lessons increased, but the new variable is the technology available today, which was not It has been available for 10 years. The system provides the student with an opportunity to improve his level and obtain various types of knowledge, but in an easy way. We know very well that we will encounter errors in applying the system, but if we do not have the courage to go through the experiment, we will remain as we are in the back.
** The state has resorted to Japanese schools as one of the tributaries of developing education through the use of models from abroad.. How do you view that experience?
Japanese schools are not another path different from the education development strategy, but focus on the third aspect that I previously talked about, which is the creation of conscience. The difference between Japanese schools and other schools is that these schools and activities focus on the students being responsible for the cleanliness of their school, and they play arts, sports and business. The Japanese system is based on the industry of conscience, they do not differ much from our vision, but they actually implement it, and we have to take and learn from them.
** A state of controversy has recently been raised because of the so-called “Arabization of language school curricula”, so how do you view this matter?
There is no such thing as “Arabization of languages”, as it is a word that has no meaning at all, and I phoned the minister, and he told me that there is no such thing as “Arabization of languages”, and he told me: The schools that teach science and arithmetic, and they are the 721 experimental schools in the foreign language, will start The foreign language chapter is in the first preparatory, not the fourth primary, and the teaching of the English language will be taught in the first primary and not in the 2nd primary, and starting from my preparatory school, there will be a second foreign language teaching, and unfortunately the media gave an unreal picture, contrary to what I heard from the Minister of Education, Dr. Tariq Shawqi.
Hossam Badrawi
** Far from the education file, the parties have become accused of not being able to produce a presidential candidate capable of competing despite the presence of more than 100 parties in Egypt. How do you see that?
There is no president who governs without a popular backer. Any person who elects the president because he has an economic and political ideology. There must be groups working in the bases to help this president implement that thought. The president does not represent all ideas, but rather a specific thought. It is promoted and those who work against it. We have chosen to have a presidential system, parliament and local councils. The goal is to have popular control over a ruling party. If there is no majority party ruling, who will govern? Therefore, there will be a vacuum, this vacuum will only be filled by the most Organized and financed, such as the Brotherhood or any political party that has funding, or the security intervenes to fill this void so as not to leave it as well, and it is certain that any parliament member or local councils in order to achieve gains for the people of his constituency wants to touch the executive authority, and therefore any political party has no friction with the authority The executive authority would not exist, because the executive authority is the only strong authority in Egypt, the legislative and supervisory authority is weak, and the judiciary is elsewhere. Because he They do not know that they will not be able to serve their constituencies without the executive authority, so we need to do another political action. To be a party, there must be an ideology, funding and communication with the people, which is sometimes translated as an action against the system, because party life is “sufficient, You don’t want people to make strong parties and you are satisfied.”
** Does the president need a political party to act as his back-up to support him?
President Sisi no longer needs a political party because he was elected a second time and he has no other chance.
** There are serious efforts to transform the Egypt Support Coalition into a political party. How do you view that step?
If the Egypt Support Coalition turns into a political party, it will be short-lived, because whoever is motivated by the executive state institutions in good faith, and when state institutions are the ones controlling politics, they create two things, a party for or against, and I see that Egypt is greater than that, and I repeat it again, the party that owns Funding, ideology, and organization will have the ability to fill the void, and if we do not have an organized party that is able to finance and is possible, and the state allows it to move, any organized group will fill the void and the financing outside Egypt is ready.
How do you evaluate the performance of Parliament over the past period?
There are deputies who work seriously in Parliament, but my parliamentary experience says that parliamentary performance without parties is like an incomplete meal. There must be a majority and a minority party, and there must be different opinions, but I see that everyone says the same opinion in the same way, and that is the result of security interference. severe.
Some voices have recently come to reconcile with the Muslim Brotherhood, the last of which was the former leader of the Brotherhood, Kamal Al-Helbawi. How do you view these calls?
President El-Sisi’s rule came with a mandate from the people to exclude the Brotherhood, so if anyone asks for reconciliation with the Brotherhood for political presence, this means going back 10 years. As for the Egyptian citizen personally, he belongs to any direction, he is free as long as he does not infringe on the rights of anyone, and he has no criminal charge, but The Brotherhood’s political presence raises the mandate to the president, who has been entrusted by the people to this government.
** Egypt faces many economic challenges, topped by the high prices.. How do you see solutions to confront this crisis from your point of view?
Prices will never go down, because prices are related to supply and demand, and the only law that has remained in life without changing is the law of supply and demand. There are budgets for health and education, and the only way for prices to change is production, because demand exists and does not change and will increase with the increase in population, so there is no way but to increase production, meaning that the private sector intervenes to produce and establish factories, and the whole issue is political and economic, so investments must be increased to increase the supply, Which will be followed automatically by an increase in salaries, but the intervention of the state to reduce the price of a lost issue one hundred percent.
** But do you not see that there is a glimmer of hope after the stock market achieved record numbers for the first time in its history?
The stock market is a stock market that does not express your real production, but it is large companies that buy and sell, but in the end we want to produce and grow more, and import less. This is a work that needs that the state provides an opportunity for investment, and this is not possible, because as long as the supply is less, prices will increase, and unfortunately.” People start and do not want to work.” The government is supposed to motivate people, teach them how to work and provide them with training opportunities, and I assure that without production, the problem will remain the same and will worsen.
** What about the external challenges facing the country, especially in light of the transformations that are taking place in the region?
The transformations are difficult because you do not have a hand in determining its fate. Unfortunately, you are the recipient of its results. For Egypt to be strong externally, it must be strong internally, and this requires a strong economy and education. Unfortunately, the past seven years have taken a lot from the life of the Egyptian people, and globally the United States is manipulating in All countries of the year, and a system that has become in a state of madness, and on the other hand, China, I expect its income to exceed the income of the United States of America. We must look to the future. Unfortunately, the largest source of wealth in the world at present is the arms trade and the trade in medicines and preparations. What I would like to say is that the humanitarian aspects What we used to see in the United States has fallen, Europe has become an old continent, and Asia must be looked at greatly, but most importantly we should look inward in Egypt because we have the potential to be a superpower.
** You were tweeting outside the flock during Mubarak’s rule and some called you “The Man of the Storm” and a book was published with that name, so what does your memory store about that period?
I hope that we will skip talking about the details of that stage, praise be to God, may God give me justice with the love and respect of people, and everyone knows that I was actually outside the flock in that system, and what proves this is that after 7 years I do not go to a place without people putting me in the forefront of respect because they know my role and what I did it, and I do not want anything more than that, and I hoped to do a lot during that period, and I pray all the time for the protection of our country, because Egypt has great potentials, and I have a feeling that if things are disciplined in managing the Egyptian state, there are many things that will change because Egypt is a big country. If we look at the economic analyzes, we will find that there are great indicators that indicate Egypt’s economic progress during the next 15 years, as Egypt is full of talents and luminous models.
** Some confirmed that President Mubarak is currently writing his memoirs. What is the truth about this?
I don’t know, I haven’t contacted him since he got out of prison.
** What about the family of President Mubarak, did you cut off your connection with them permanently?
I communicate with Gamal and Alaa, sons of former President Mubarak, only in social life, not in politics.
** From your point of view, as an expert and political thinker, what was the reason that made the Mubarak regime drift towards the downfall of that period?
The problem of Egypt throughout its life is in management, for example: What is the difference between North and South Korea, they understand the same people, genes and sources of wealth. The whole issue lies in management. There are those who know how to manage their country and its economy well, and there are those who fail and fail in that, the entire Arab world works with the same The administration was formed 70 years ago, so it will remain as it is. The fact of the matter is that we are not running our country well, and I hope President Sisi and his group will change this.
Finally, are you optimistic about Egypt’s future in the coming period?
Of course, he is very optimistic, because we have all the elements of success that make us at the forefront of the ranks. Egypt has always been a source of enlightenment for the Arab world with its art and civilization, and everyone knows its value and importance, so I am confident that Egypt will overcome difficulties and challenges in the next stage.
