Today, Tanta University held a conference to announce that it has secured the first place among Egyptian universities in adult literacy efforts for the first three quarters of the 2023/2024 fiscal year, with a total of 48,985 citizens having been made literate. The event was attended by Prof. Tanta University President, Prof. Eid Abdel Wahed, Executive Chairman of the General Authority for Literacy and Adult Education, Prof. Mahmoud Selim, Vice President of Tanta University for Community Service and Environmental Development, Prof. Mohamed Hussein, Vice President of Tanta University for Education and Student Affairs, Mohamed Abu El-Nabaiel, Director of the Authority's Branch in Gharbia Governorate, and a group of deans, vice-deans, and faculty members.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Mahmoud Zaki thanked the political leadership for launching and supporting unique community initiatives that serve citizens and build human capacity as a developmental cornerstone. He expressed his happiness at the repeated achievements in the national project for adult literacy and Tanta University's leading position among Egyptian universities for the fourth time. He emphasized that students' participation in adult literacy fulfills the political leadership's vision of higher education institutions' role as centers of expertise in providing community services that enhance national awareness and instill concepts of national and community responsibility in students.

The President of Tanta University praised the significant reduction in the illiteracy rate in Gharbia Governorate by nearly one-third over three years. He commended the effective cooperation and partnership with the General Authority for Literacy and Adult Education and development partners in Gharbia Governorate. He explained that this is an integral part of the university's achievements in serving the community at both local and regional levels through supporting presidential initiatives like the "Decent Life" initiative, which has benefited nearly one million citizens from its comprehensive development convoys. He thanked Egypt Workers' Complex and representatives from the industrial and private sectors who were present.

Prof. Mahmoud Selim stated that Tanta University is launching collaborative initiatives today between the university, representing higher education institutions, the General Authority for Literacy and Adult Education, representing the government sector, and Egypt Workers' Association and Out Company, representing the civil and industrial sectors. This collaboration serves as a model for the effective community participation role of Egyptian universities within an integrated framework.

The Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development explained that the community service sector adopts policies and executive procedures based on the sustainable development goals and Egypt's Vision 2030. He outlined the initiatives supporting the national literacy project, including agreements with Egypt Workers' Complex and AppOut Company to implement two community service initiatives in Gharbia Governorate and the Delta region. The first initiative focuses on providing specialized vocational, artisanal, and skills training, while the second aims to eliminate digital illiteracy among those who have been made literate. These initiatives align with the objectives of the presidential initiative "Alliance and Development."

Prof. Eid Abdel Wahed expressed gratitude to Tanta University, praising its continuous support in recent years for the national literacy project. He commended the strategic and intellectual framework and the excellent executive performance of the university under Prof. Mahmoud Zaki's leadership and the efforts of the community service and environmental development sector in supporting the local community and the national literacy and adult education project.

At the conclusion of the conference, Prof. Mahmoud Zaki, Prof. Mahmoud Selim, Prof. Eid Abdel Wahed, and Prof. Mohamed Abu El-Nabaiel exchanged commemorative shields. Additionally, deans of participating faculties that achieved the highest contributions to adult literacy were honored, including Prof. Yasser El-Garaf, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Prof. Mamdouh El-Masry, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Osama Badr, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Asaad Darbala, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, and several vice-deans.