The Education Reform Program (ERP), a program funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), on Wednesday, opened the Egypt's largest school complex in Al Marg district of Cairo.

Built at a cost of 12 LE million ($2.25 million), Princess Neemat Palace School complex, will house a preparatory school for boys, a secondary school for boys, and a secondary school for girls with a capacity of 4,600 students. 
 
Cairo Governor Dr Abdel Azim Wazir inaugurated the school in the presence of Farida Farahat, the general manager for the Marg Educational Administration (Idarra), and USAID mission director Hilda Arellano.

The schools, which have been completely funded by USAID, are a long awaited solution for the residents of Al Marg, said a government official.

'The Egypt's largest school complex will now allow residents much needed access to high quality education facilities and help students realise their full potential.'

'It is the result of an unprecedented level of cooperation between the ERP, the Egyptian government, and most importantly the community of Al Marg who actively participated in the selection of the location of the campus.' 

Farahat expressed delight at the opening of the campuses at the Princess Neemat School complex and dubbed it as a huge success.

'We have already inaugurated three other schools prior to these new additions, but the new facilities have solved a key problem for the residents of West Al Marg who have till now had very limited access to education' she said.

'The project is a milestone for all the organizations involved showing that a cooperative relationship between the school, students, and the community can be forged with the aim of helping students reach their full potential and the highest academic achievements,' she added.

A further three primary schools are being planned within the complex for the near future bringing the total capacity of students to 8,600.

The ERP hasn't stopped there. The program administrators have also ensured there is sufficient space for recreational facilities for the students.

They have also recruited teachers, who have undergone high quality professional development training, supplied by the ERP Education Quality Improvement Program.

For Al Marg, this is seen as a move towards a brighter future for the children of the district. For Egypt, this is a grand stride towards the development of the nation’s vibrant forthcoming labor force.

This project is a testament to the adage that incremental change is stable and permanent change: one school at a time will ultimately foster a better world, said an USAID official.-TradeArabia News Service