News
British Council reports high demand for ‘Primary Plus’ its English courses for children in Egypt
British Council, the United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, says demand for Primary Plus—its English course for children aged 6-11 years old—has surpassed expectations in Egypt.
The experiential programme helps develop children’s confidence in communicating in English as well as important 21st Century life skills like creativity, critical thinking, digital literacy and leadership.
Since its launch in 2018, British Council has seen enrolment levels triple as parents realise the added benefits the course brings their children.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2018 Future of Jobs Report, technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution have created new pressures on labour markets and heightened the need for a reskilling revolution. Education reform, lifelong learning and reskilling initiatives will be critical for inclusive economic growth.
Against this backdrop, the British Council has improved its Primary Plus curriculum to focus more broadly on young learners’ physical, personal, social and emotional development in order to prepare them to tackle future challenges. With workplaces undergoing change at a pace never seen before, English alone is no longer enough to prepare children for the future job market. This generation will require English alongside highly developed soft skills like creativity, critical thinking, teamwork and communication.
Elizabeth White, Director, British Council, Egypt said: “With a massive youth population, Egypt has a huge economic opportunity if potential can be met with employment. As the government starts to back entrepreneurship, it is crucial that the youth are prepared with 21st century skills to enter the workforce. Egypt’s Vision 2030 highlights the importance of the nation’s youth to drive change and achieve a prosperous future for the country. With our modern educational programmes like Primary Plus, Connecting Classrooms and Taqaddam, as well as our partnership with the Ministry of Education, we aim to support the development of Egyptian youth throughout their learning journeys. We want to provide them with the skills they need to secure opportunities abroad or contribute to the development of their country.”
David Townhill, Director of the Teaching Centre at British Council Egypt added: “In order to future-proof their skills and develop into successful and confident individuals, children today need more than English proficiency. They need to learn how to be agile and resilient so they can explore higher education opportunities abroad and become part of a highly mobile and competitive labour market, as well as enter into jobs which do not yet exist. An investment in your child’s early education and care can facilitate their long-term success in their academic journey and even later life.”
Primary Plus moves beyond language learning through the active promotion of creativity, critical thinking, IT skills and ‘learning how to learn’. The course provides an inspiring environment with interactive classes and creative projects that spark a love of learning and promote expertise in English. By incorporating real-life topics that relate to children’s personal experiences, the programme aims to improve their language naturally and arouse an interest in exploring the world using English.
Taught by British Council specialists who are world experts in English language teaching, Primary Plus is a module-based, six-level series of courses with age-appropriate themes and topics that match stages of child development. Classes are designed to be lively, fun and challenging, with teachers encouraging freedom of expression during highly interactive sessions in a safe and conducive environment.
Course materials include magazines that have been created, tested and refined by the British Council globally, making them more up-to-date than regular text books and offering more flexibility in learning. Students can also take part in learning activities on the Primary Plus online portal at home, which is specially designed for grammar and vocabulary training with many films and language learning games that unlock once students reach a certain level of progress.
Courses are now open for registration. Attending the course, young learners can benefit from the wealth of teaching experience of the British Council. Over the past 80 years, British Council has helped more than 100 million people in 100 different countries improve their English skills.
The course consists of 10 lessons and Primary lessons are two hours long. For more information about Primary Plus
Lendo, a Saudi Arabia-based Shariah-compliant crowdlending marketplace, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with J.P. Morgan to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country.
The MOU was signed during 24 Fintech, a premier fintech event that brings together industry leaders, innovators, and investors in Riyadh.
J.P. Morgan and Lendo are working together on potential opportunities to support the SME sector in Saudi Arabia in growing and sustaining the remarkable demand in this market.
“This strategic collaboration with J.P. Morgan, a pioneer in the financial industry, marks a significant milestone for Lendo,” said Osama Alraee, CEO and co-founder of Lendo. “By combining our strengths, we’ll deliver cutting-edge financial solutions to SMEs, supporting their growth and contributing directly to the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”
The SME financing landscape in MENA presents a substantial market opportunity as limited financial access continues to restrict the growth of the region’s businesses, with commercial banks hesitant to issue loans to SMEs at scale, resulting in a high percentage of declined financing requests annually.
The total SME financing gap in developing countries is estimated to be approximately $5.2 trillion, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Lendo’s debt crowdfunding platform aims to bridge the financing gap for SMEs, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s goal to significantly expand SME lending from 4% in 2018 to 20% by 2030.
According to the latest available report from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the total value of debt crowdfunding in Saudi Arabia surged from SAR 1.4 million in 2019 to SAR 771 million in 2022, marking a remarkable growth.
Lendo raised SAR 132 million ($35.2 million) in total funding from leading investors, including the most recent Series B led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly-owned company by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Since its inception in December 2019, Saudi fintech Lendo has processed over 5,000 financing transactions on its platform, providing over SAR 2 billion ($600 million) in financing to SMEs and generating SAR 280 million ($74 million) in returns for investors.
TA Telecom, a prominent player in the Middle East’s tech sector, has unveiled AnteThink, an AI-driven tool designed to enhance decision-making processes for individuals and businesses alike.
With a history of influencing the tech landscape through various initiatives, including advanced mobile solutions, high-volume payment platforms, and ventures in e-commerce, fintech, and analytics, TA Telecom has carved a niche for itself. Serving a vast user base of 40 million and processing an impressive 15 billion transactions across its platforms, TA Telecom has cemented its position as a tech industry leader, with some of its ventures achieving the status of Y Combinator companies.
Established in 2000, TA Telecom has emerged as a prominent player in the technology sector. With over 40 million users and processing 15 billion transactions annually, TA Telecom has made a notable impact. Recognized for its contributions by the Financial Times and featured on Deloitte’s list of fastest-growing tech companies in EMEA, TA Telecom is known for its adaptability and forward-thinking approach in the ever-evolving global tech landscape.
Sameh Ibrahim, CEO of TA Telecom, highlights the potential of AnteThink: “AnteThink reflects our commitment to leverage technology for practical impact. It aims to provide clarity and confidence in decision-making, whether in the professional or personal sphere. AnteThink is a tool that can empower startup founders, executives, and individuals to make more informed choices, alleviating the stress and uncertainty often associated with critical decision-making.”
Mostafa Ashour, CEO of Y Combinator-backed startup NowPay, shared his perspective on AnteThink: “AnteThink transformed our strategic planning, allowing us to explore various scenarios and prepare for different outcomes. It has strengthened our decision-making process, helping us navigate the complexities of the business landscape.”
AnteThink embodies TA Telecom’s commitment to innovation, focusing on supporting the startup ecosystem. The tool is tailored to help leaders and executives navigate the complexities of business management and strategic development by providing a clear picture of potential outcomes.
Key Features of AnteThink include:
1. Second Order Mode: Offering a comprehensive analysis of broader impacts, fostering a strategic mindset for long-term success.
2. Optionality Mode: Enabling detailed evaluation and comparison of different choices to ensure decisions align with strategic objectives and values.
3. Inversion Mode: Focusing on identifying and mitigating potential risks, thereby strengthening risk management strategies.
Credit: Antethink
AnteThink’s advanced AI technology aims to assist decision-makers with insightful analytics, offering guidance through the decision-making process.
Selina Bieber, the Senior Director of Global Markets at GoDaddy, has predicted a significant increase in Egypt’s e-commerce revenue. By 2028, it could reach $9.88 billion.
Godaddy is forming strategic partnerships and launching initiatives to help local entrepreneurs. These efforts align with Egypt’s digital transformation goals and its Vision 2030.
In an interview with the Arabic financial news “Amwal Al Ghad,” Bieber spoke about GoDaddy’s plans and how they match Egypt’s 2023 strategy. She highlighted the company’s aim to provide effective, easy-to-use digital tools and services. By 2024, GoDaddy wants to serve more customers in Egypt by making its digital tools more widespread.
The company is working closely with the Egyptian government, especially the Ministry of Planning. They are offering training programs to improve the digital skills of startups and existing businesses. GoDaddy’s services in Egypt include domain registration, web hosting, e-commerce solutions, and digital marketing tools.
Recent surveys support Bieber’s positive outlook for e-commerce in Egypt. They show a clear trend towards digital strategies among small businesses. Many are realizing the importance of having an online presence for their growth and success.
As GoDaddy continues its partnerships and supports government digital initiatives, its influence on Egypt’s digital landscape is growing. The company is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. It aims not just for business growth but also to contribute to a sustainable and thriving digital economy in Egypt.
The 2028 projection indicates a vast potential for e-commerce, with GoDaddy playing a key role in this digital evolution.
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