Libya’s General National Congress has allocated LD 3.28 billion to send 40,000 Libyans abroad for English and technical training. Deputy Minister Bashir Echtewi announced that 5,692 students and 2,004 faculty will participate. The initiative aims to enhance job opportunities and address unemployment, with funding for language training and support for diverse participants.
Libya’s General National Congress (GNC) has proposed a substantial budget of LD 3.28 billion (approximately US$2.57 billion) to facilitate the international education of 40,000 Libyans. This initiative aims to support the study of English and technical training for students and faculty at foreign institutions. Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Bashir Echtewi, has confirmed the initiative will encompass 5,692 students and 2,004 faculty members with Masters degrees, along with a selection of top students for university studies abroad.
In a recent press conference, Deputy Minister Echtewi detailed the allocation of funds, which will assist 10,000 students and faculty in vocational and higher education abroad. This decision includes provisions for 3,616 distinguished students to further their education overseas. According to GNC member Abdulmonem Alyaser, this effort aims to enhance national security by increasing employment opportunities through educational training in professional skills and English language proficiency.
Alyaser emphasized the need for strategic solutions to address unemployment issues, stating that the high rates of unemployment have been core problems contributing to nationwide unrest. Thus, the GNC’s focus on education abroad is designed to yield a measurable impact on both the unemployment and security crises.
Moreover, an additional 31,000 students will also receive support to complete one year of English language training overseas. The objective is for participants to achieve sufficient TOFEL or IELTS scores facilitating their acceptance into foreign universities. This budgetary enhancement notably exceeds the previous allocation of LD 1 billion, which catered to only 12,500 students, many of whom left Libya before the civil conflict initiated in February 2011.
Initially, funding was to be exclusively available for candidates associated with the Warriors Affairs Commission, created to provide educational opportunities for veterans. However, following public dissent, the GNC broadened the program to include women and individuals with disabilities. As a result, the government has requested state institutions to recommend candidates for the educational opportunities abroad.
In addition to facilitating studies overseas, the GNC aims to tackle the national unemployment rate reported by the Ministry of Labour to be around 340,000. The GNC’s overall strategy includes an additional investment of LD 7 billion to support projects in various sectors, such as solar energy, cement, steel, agriculture, and tourism. Alyaser reiterated, “I believe that in order to make a measurable impact to resolve the unemployment and security problem, Libya must invest in the education-abroad program, the large-scale joint venture projects and an SME program.”
The GNC’s initiatives reflect widespread criticism of higher education in Libya post-revolution, which has been marked by overcrowded facilities and subpar teaching standards. Many stakeholders oppose the decision to send students abroad, viewing it as a diversion from investing in local college and institution improvements that could provide sustained benefits for the nation.
The General National Congress of Libya has proposed a significant initiative aimed at addressing unemployment and enhancing educational opportunities by sending 40,000 students and faculty abroad. This program, funded with LD 3.28 billion, is designed to bolster English language skills and technical training. While the expansion of this initiative is met with both support and criticism, it reflects the government’s recognition of the urgent need for educational reform and employment solutions in Libya.
Original Source: thepienews.com
