The Adult Education Department focuses specifically on offering educational services to adults and older community members who may have never finished school, struggle with literacy, or are looking to potentially continue their education.
The education system of Egypt struggles to overcome both internal and external challenges. The Egyptian school system has traditionally struggled to find adequate funding, resulting in insufficient teaching staff, overcrowded classrooms, and a lack of essential teaching materials. In light of the country’s recent financial instability, the school system continues to suffer, especially in poorer communities. Many young people—especially young males—are choosing to drop out of school to pursue work, hoping to raise money for their families. Additionally, many lingering or traditional stigmas persist regarding women and education. In a report released in 2017 by CAPMAS, it was estimated that roughly 14.4% of Egyptian males were considered illiterate. In the same report, women were estimated at 26%.
The Education Program is one of the three Essential Programs of BLESS, meaning that every community BLESS serves will receive educational support. BLESS is currently providing academic and educational training services to 145 communities all throughout Egypt.