Dr. Tarek Kamel, Minster of Communications and Information Technology along with Dr. Ahmed Darwish, Minister of State for Administrative Development and Dr. Yousry El Gamal, Minister of Education and Dr. Hany Helal, Minster of Higher Education and Scientific Research signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to avail the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) to more than one million citizen throughout the coming five years. Such protocol comes as part of the country’s efforts to raise awareness of Egypt’s Information Society and actualize the Egyptian Educational Initiative.

The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) Foundation signed an agreement licensing the ICDL to the MCIT with a lower cost. Dr. Ekram Fathy, Advisor to the Minister for Human Resource Development and Training signed the protocol along with Mr. Demeian Sullivan.

The vitality of ICDL resides in being an international indicator for quality assurance and assessment of the competencies and skills of the end beneficiaries who are university students, newly graduates, professors, researches, and governmental employees. According to the agreement, MCIT will be responsible for all charges pertaining to the use of ECDL Concepts and Trade Marks, supervision and implementation of tests at the accredited test centers, together with the recruitment of the needed technical staff. Furthermore, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will be responsible for quality control whereas a reputable Egyptian company will host the training programs.

Ministries of State for Administrative Development, Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research will be responsible for providing the training services and covering the application and testing charges. The training programs will be conducted in over 210 accredited training centers and 60 accredited testing centers.

ICDL is an internationally accredited certificate that is issued by the UNESCO. The license provides more opportunity for employment in both public and private organizations in the market. License holders have basic IT knowledge, are able to manage files, use spreadsheets, databases, prepare presentations, and employ technology for effective communication and information use.