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Cairo sends university students to tour military industry

University students are touring Egypt's military production facilities as part of a state program to educate the public and defend its image.

Military students stand at attention to mark the opening of the Mohamed Najib military base, the graduation of new graduates from military colleges, and the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the July 23 revolution at El Hammam City in the North Coast, in Marsa Matrouh, Egypt, July 22, 2017 in this handout picture courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency. The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. - RC1831D7DF40
Military students stand at attention to mark the opening of the Mohamed Najib military base, the graduation of new graduates from military colleges and the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the July 23 revolution at El Hammam City in the North Coast, Marsa Matrouh, Egypt, July 22, 2017. — The Egyptian Presidency/REUTERS

Egyptian university students are visiting military-owned companies and factories to learn about their projects and production processes.

The Every New Day initiative, a joint program by the Ministry of Military Production and the Ministry of Higher Education, started Sept. 27 in universities nationwide and will conclude in December. “This initiative will contribute to fostering values of patriotism and work ethics in young people,” said Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Saeed el-Assar. “It will also significantly contribute to raising awareness among a whole generation of young people about the resources and capabilities of their country, as well as what the state's various institutions are doing to enhance societal development,” Assar said in a statement published on the ministry's website.

So far, seven delegations of students from universities including Ain Shams, Menoufia, Damietta, Suez, Port Said, Cairo and Helwan have paid visits to various military factories and training centers. Visits to military factories are scheduled for every Wednesday until Dec. 27.

Minister of Higher Education Khaled Abdel Ghaffar said in the same statement published on the ministry's website that the program “seeks to involve the youth in the state's development plans and teach them about achievements on the ground.”

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