7-year-old Egyptian student wins 1st place in UNESCO's mental arithmetic competition

CAIRO – 2 January 2023: Minister of Education and Technical Education Reda Hegazy honored Sunday Grade 2 Student Omar Zaki after his win of the first place in the mental arithmetic competition held by UNESCO in Taiwan and that comprised 100 contestants.

Zaki, 7, is resident of Mansoura city, which is the capital of Daqahliyah governorate, and student at a private school. The child had earned a scholarship to study a robotics course at Mansoura University's School of Engineering given his sharp intelligence.

Egypt got re-elected in November as a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after garnering 130 votes during Wednesday’s elections.

The UNESCO comprises 58 member-states with a four-year term of office for each.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said the re-election of Egypt for consecutive terms in the UNESCO is considered an international recognition of Egypt’s active role and position in the UN generally and the UNESCO specifically.

The ministry’s spokesman, Ahmed Hafez, said this win crowns efforts made by the ministry and Egyptian embassies and envoys to garner votes in favor of re-electing Egypt as UNESCO executive board member.