When the Minister Visits the Field, Does a Message of Discipline Reach Every School?

I followed what has been published about the tours of Minister Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, to a number of schools. In my view, these tours may help the minister see reality as it is, and they may also help with development, provided they do not lose the element of surprise. I see them as a practical message of great importance, and one that is stronger than any paperwork circular.

When the minister attends in person, he is telling the student that their school day matters, telling the teacher that their work is seen and valued, and telling the school principal that discipline is not just a slogan raised in reports, but a behavior practiced every morning. I believe that the presence of leadership in the field bridges long distances between the ministry and the school, and brings decision-making closer to reality.

Field Monitoring Reveals Details of Education Quality

I do not view the scene from a single angle, but rather from the perspective of method and approach. Reviewing the homework notebook, lesson preparation log, and attendance record means that monitoring has gone down to the details that make education quality. I believe these details are what reveal whether a student is truly learning or simply attending.

And I believe we need these unannounced tours to continue, while preserving the importance of the element of surprise; because they prevent reliance on staged images, and push every school to be ready every day, not just on the day of the visit.

The Message of Discipline Reaches Student, Teacher, and Principal

The impact of these visits may extend to everyone working in the field of education. When a student sees the minister at their morning assembly, they feel that their education is a priority for the state, and that their discipline has value.

When a teacher sees someone reviewing their notebook with interest, they feel that their effort is under observation and not far from oversight, and that appreciation begins with respecting their daily work.

The school principal realizes that discipline in attendance, cleanliness, and assembly organization is not a marginal matter, but part of the school’s image. I also see that parents receive a reassuring message that someone is monitoring their children inside the classroom, rather than just from an office.

How Do Unannounced Tours Become a Culture of Monitoring?

Why not turn these tours into a culture of monitoring within every educational administration, so that every official attends the morning assembly at a different school, chosen without prior notice, and sits with the students and listens to them?

I believe that listening to the student in confidence is very important; talking to them inside the classroom may reveal a problem that paperwork does not show.

I also suggest that positive observations be documented and published; because praising disciplined schools encourages the rest of the schools to follow their example.

Daily Discipline Shapes the School’s Future

Education is not built on decisions alone, but on presence, monitoring, and role modeling. When the minister starts his day from inside the school, he reminds us all that the school is the beginning of the day and the beginning of the future, and that discipline every morning builds great success over time.

By: Rody Nabil

Published by Hany Sallam

Hany Sallam, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Scientific Magazine Ahram
An independent Arabic science magazine operating since 2008, dedicated to simplifying science, technology, space, natural phenomena and scientific stories for Arabic readers. The magazine includes sections such as “Zodiac Group” and “Stories and Tales”, alongside science topics that combine knowledge with a spirit of discovery. It operates independently and is not affiliated with Al-Ahram Press Foundation or any governmental body.