Egyptian Association of University Women

Illiteracy Eradication Project for Women and Girls in Cairo

The Egyptian Association of University Women (EAUW) is organizing literacy classes for women and girls in the Giza district of Cairo.  According to national statistics, 17 million of the country's 80 million inhabitants are illiterate.  Two thirds of these (about 11.5 million) are female, including many living in urban areas. 

Fourteen local teachers received special intensive language teaching training on a course run by the Egyptian Government at the "Adult Education and Illiteracy Eradication Centre" and twelve passed, receiving formal recognition and accreditation from the Egyptian Government.  These teachers are now running a series of evening literacy classes in Arabic and mathematics in local Giza schools.    The classes are held for two hours outside of normal school hours, four or five times a week.  Classes are open to all but the majority of attendees are female.    They are from all age groups and the majoritity have not attended school at all or have had to drop out for reasons such as poverty, early marriage or ignorance.  Transportation is provided the the very poor to enable them to attend and some basic food items such as rice, beans and oil are also provided to participants every two months as encouragement. 

Final exams set by the Authority for Adult Education and Illiteracy Eradication, will be held for students at the end of each six-week period and proficiency certificates being given to all those who meet the required standard. 

Approximately 100 women and girls between the ages of 14 and 35, are currently benefitting from this project which will run October 2009 and September 2010.  The project will be supervised by young members from the Cairo branch.  The cost of teacher training and materials for the courses is being covered by EAUW.