Minister of Education Participates in 'Listen and Talk' Forum, Commends Al-Azhar’s Role in Promoting Volunteerism and Tolerance

CAIRO – 6 May 2025: Speaking at the fourth edition of the “Listen and Talk” Forum, organized by the Al-Azhar Observatory for Combating Extremism (AOCE), Minister Education Mohamed Abdel Latif highlighted Al-Azhar’s efforts in confronting destructive ideologies, addressing current intellectual and social challenges, and enhancing communication.

Minister Abdel Latif praised the pivotal role of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif in promoting the values of volunteerism, tolerance, and the rejection of violence.

He commended the platform for its focus on contemporary issues that matter to young people, noting its role in protecting them from extremist ideologies by fostering critical thinking and analytical skills. He emphasized that such efforts are crucial to preserving the identity of young people in the age of artificial intelligence.

During his address at the Forum, the Minister expressed his delight at participating in the event and acknowledged the productive collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Al-Azhar scholars across various fields. He particularly praised joint efforts in developing Islamic religious education curricula that reflect Islam’s moderate, tolerant nature, moral values, and noble ideals.

Minister Abdel Latif stressed that the principles of tolerance promote mutual understanding, respect, and acceptance of diversity. Accordingly, the Ministry has worked diligently to safeguard students from extremist ideologies by embedding values such as respect for others and peaceful coexistence within the religious education curricula.

He highlighted that Egypt’s newly developed education system reflects this vision through its integrated curriculum, especially at the basic education level. The revised curricula emphasize practical applications of citizenship and include key values in Arabic language and religious studies courses. These are built on four core pillars: life skills, human values, contemporary issues and challenges, and the integration of knowledge.

Concluding his speech, the Minister stated that the Ministry has also incorporated national awareness into the curriculum matrix for the preparatory stage of the developed education system, ensuring that learning outcomes reflect the values of citizenship and tolerance. The Arabic language curriculum, in particular, promotes tolerance, denounces violence, and highlights the enlightened aspects of Islamic civilization—especially its embrace of diversity and respect for others.