British Council announces its first“ScienceStars”competition at its annual Principals’Forum

Cairo, 16 October 2019: The British Council announced its first science competition for 14-16-year-old students attending its partner schools, during its annual Principals’ Forumat Sheraton Cairo Hotel, which brings together government officials, school leaders, and representatives from the UK ExamsBoards. The event was also attended by Sir Geoffrey Adams, British Ambassador to Egypt.

Candidates should be currently studying in grades 10, 11 or 12 and enrolled in one of British Council’s partner schools. To apply to the Science Stars competition, students must submit an application before 23 November through https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V587VS9, and include the scientific concept they have chosen, which can be in any topic in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine) field,and to present it later on in a 3-minute presentation.

The final ceremony of the Science Stars competition will be on 27 February 2020, where shortlisted students will present their concept in front of a jury, and three winners will receive an internship during the summer at the British University in Egypt.
Mike Bailey, Exams Director at the British Council in Egypt said: “The idea behind Science Stars is to take science out of the classroom and make it fun, and to encourage young people with a passion for science and technology to share their enthusiasm with the general public.”

The competition was announced at the Principals’ Forum, which was attended by 230 school leaders from across the country,and representatives from the Ministry of Educationin addition to representatives from Cambridge Assessment International Education, Pearson Edexcel, and Oxford International AQA.

School leaders from Alexandria, Tanta, Red Sea, Sohag, Mansoura, Ismailia, Luxor and Port Said governorates also attended.In 2018, the British Council increased the number of partner schools to 140, growing by an average of 10 schools per year, and boasting 110 high achievers for Cambridge and 52 for Pearson. Every year, two million people take international exams with help from the British Council.

The Principals’ Forum is a key event that brings together school leaders to network and engage in training and discussions on UK qualifications.The British Council supports its partner schools with administrative and operative roles as it liaisesbetween the Awarding Bodies and two Egyptian Ministries, ensures the integrity of the exams system at every stage, supports with teachers’ development and activities to enhance educational knowledge, provides updates from Ministries, and connects schools with the latest teaching and learning techniques.Moreover, it provides support to school leaders on various school management aspects and connects them with their peers in Egypt and overseas, to provide the highest level of exposure,in addition to developing and supporting learners with engagement programmes and extra curricula activities.

Elizabeth White, Country Director of the British Council in Egypt said: “As we do with our Famelab competition, which just kicked off last month in Egypt for the 11th time and runs in dozens of countries worldwide –targeting 18-40 year-olds – “Science Stars” promotes the skill of science communication, and is designed to find the new faces of science – people who can inspire and excite public imagination with a vision of science in the 21st century.”