Cairo, Egypt, 22 April 2025: Pearson Edexcel and the British Council Egypt hosted the Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards (OPLAs) at the British Embassy in Cairo, recognising the top-performing students in Egypt for Pearson Edexcel qualifications. Honouring and co-hosting the ceremony were Catherine Carr, Deputy British Ambassador to Egypt, Mark Howard, Director of British Council in Egypt and Kathryn Booth, Regional Director, Pearson School Qualifications.
OPLAs reward students who achieve outstanding results in their Pearson Edexcel iPrimary, iLowerSecondary, International GCSE/GCSE and International A level examinations. The awards celebrate the academic achievements of secondary school learners in the 2024 Edexcel International GCSE exams as well as commemorate the teachers and schools that prepared these high-performing students.
Deputy British Ambassador to Egypt, Catherine Carr, said: ‘It is a great honour to celebrate the achievements of Egypt’s brightest young minds at the Outstanding Pearson Learner Awards. These students exemplify the values of academic excellence, determination, and global citizenship. Their success is a testament not only to their personal commitment, but also to the dedication of their teachers, families and schools. Education continues to be a cornerstone of the strong and evolving partnership between the United Kingdom and Egypt. We are proud to support the growth of high-quality international education here, empowering the next generation of Egyptian leaders to thrive both locally and on the global stage.’
The OPLAs contribute to the government’s initiatives to develop its education ecosystem to achieve sustainable development, observe its goals in the educational curricula and methods, and provide it in accordance with international quality standards to keep Egyptian society strong and coherent.
The OPLAs are divided into three categories, namely, The Highest Mark in the World, The Highest Mark in Africa and The Highest Mark in Egypt to inspire other students to achieve educational excellence. In 2024, close to 2200 students from 750 approved schools from over 82 different countries are eligible to receive the student awards.
Kathryn Booth, Regional Director, Pearson School Qualifications, said: ‘Investing in education and supporting learners has a significant positive impact on a country’s progress and development through economic growth, increased civic engagement and social mobility. By providing people with the skills, knowledge and opportunities they need to succeed, countries can create a more prosperous society for all.’
‘As a global leader in education, Pearson has been providing high-quality qualifications to learners in Egypt, and the UK has been supporting the country’s education sector through various initiatives. This partnership strengthens the ties between our two countries and paves the way for future collaborations. We take great pride in the outstanding achievements of our students, which reflect their perseverance and discipline. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to them, as well as to the schools, teachers and parents for their unwavering commitment and support’ Booth added.
Mark Howard, Country Director, British Council, said: ‘We are immensely proud to honour 82 young Egyptians with awards at this year’s ceremony. These outstanding students, representing 42 schools, have demonstrated remarkable dedication and excellence in the October/November 2023, January 2024 and May/June 2024 examination series. Through our strong partnership with the Ministry of Education and Pearson, the British Council remains committed to expanding educational opportunities for Egyptian students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a globally connected world.’
The 82 awards presented to Egyptian student winners topped millions of students around the world for exceptional performance in Pearson Edexcel examinations, including highest mark in Egypt Awards for International Qualifications.
The International GCSE exams were first introduced by the British Council in Egypt in 1990. They represent one part of the wide range of highly distinguished educational systems and programmes offered by the British Council in Egypt in cooperation with Pearson Edexcel and the Ministry of Education.
The latest statistics from the Egyptian education market indicate that the country has the most extensive education system in the Middle East. According to Berkley Research Group, it has more than 60,000 schools, of which only 7,000 are private schools. Egypt’s private sector K-12 student growth has almost doubled in the last five years and 2.1 million new seats will be needed in private sector schools in Egypt by 2030.
