Intel supports the World Economic Forum's launch of the Egypt Education Initiative by committing to train 80% of Egyptian teachers in effective use of technology

Through the Intel® Teach to the Future program, Intel in close collaboration with the Egyptian government will train an additional 650,000 Egyptian teachers and student teachers in university, within the next five years in the use of technology to enhance 21st century learning, effectively reaching 80% of all Egyptian teachers. As part of the program expansion, Intel will implement an online version of the core Intel Teach to the Future curriculum early in the 2006-07 school year, making Egypt the first developing nation to begin training teachers online through the program. Moreover, Intel will donate 8,000 PCs to Egypt for use in 350 model schools where the teachers will receive training and the government will provide the necessary connectivity and technology infrastructure to ensure effective and sustainable use of the technology.

This announcement is part of the Intel World Ahead Program, which extends the company's existing initiatives for developing regions and integrates Intel's efforts to enhance lives by driving progress in three areas - accessibility, connectivity and education. In Egypt, Intel is working with the government and educators to ensure that the teacher training and donated PCs are implemented in a holistic, sustainable manner that supports 21st century teaching and learning. Intel believes it is critical that the implementation model include all four components of the effective use of technology in education: appropriate technology, teacher training, relevant content, and connectivity.

Commenting on this launch at the World Economic Forum, Sharm El Sheikh, Dr. Martina Roth, Intel Education Director EMEA said, "Intel aims to improve teaching and learning through the effective use of technology. In many cases governments and educators realize the value of technology in education but do not always have the resources to engage students in the use of technology. By donating the PCs, and providing teacher training we hope to showcase the use of technology in education. In working with local governments and educators, our goal is to cultivate the local capacity to broaden and sustain the effective use of ICT in education." Dr. Martina also highlighted that it was important to provide training to teachers before they completed their education courses at university.

"The Intel Teach to the Future program has been providing classroom teachers with high-quality training on how to integrate technology into their curricula to promote student-centered learning since 1999, reaching over 3 million teachers worldwide. As part of its program expansion goals in Egypt, Intel plans to use the online environment to provide teachers increased flexibility in when and how they take professional training. It will also give them access to online support resources and communities of like minded teachers to help them implement training into their classrooms." Roth added.

Intel is on the steering board for the WEF Global Education Initiative, recognized as one of the world's largest successful working models of collaborative public-private partnership in education.