The Professional Academy for Teachers is an independent public authority established by Presidential Decree No. 129 of 2008. It is governed by a Board of Directors headed by the Minister of Education, appointed by the Prime Minister, and serves as the supreme authority responsible for its affairs. The Academy aims to promote the continuous professional development of educational staff under the Education Law and Al-Azhar Law, enhancing their competencies and skills to improve the quality of the educational process.

The Role of the (PAT):

• Developing plans, policies, and quality standards for training programs to ensure the professional development of educational staff and to identify their professional development requirements.
• Designing and developing the training programs required to achieve the professional development of educational staff in accordance with the plans, policies, and professional development requirements referred to in the preceding item.
• Proposing and developing policies and systems for evaluating the professional performance of educational staff.
• Participating in the development and enhancement of the standards required to ensure the quality of educational staff performance.
• Supporting educational research and studies, and promoting the utilization of their findings.
• Providing technical consultations to the Ministry of Education and Technical Education, educational directorates and administrations, Al-Azhar, the Administration of Al-Azhar Institutes, Al-Azhar regional authorities, and relevant institutions in the fields of education and training.
• Supporting training and evaluation units in schools and Al-Azhar institutes to enhance the professional performance of educational staff.
• Cooperating with faculties of education, research and training centers, and professional development institutions in all matters that contribute to achieving the Academy’s objectives.
• Managing advanced training programs through effective partnerships with universities, research and training centers, professional development institutions, and relevant national universities.

Functions of the (PAT):

• Issuing the Eligibility Certificates stipulated under the Education Law and the Law on the Reorganization of Al-Azhar and the entities governed by them.
• Accrediting providers of professional development programs and all training services, and conducting the necessary assessments in this regard, for the fees determined by the Academy’s Board of Directors.
• Establishing information systems and databases for educational staff, including details of their qualifications, skills, experience, completed training programs, and required training courses. The Academy shall provide the relevant data to educational directorates, educational administrations, schools, the Administration of Al-Azhar Institutes, Al-Azhar regional authorities, and Al-Azhar institutes, each within its respective scope, to support decision-making.
• Providing opinions on the principles governing the preparation, review, evaluation, and classification of educational staff job descriptions.
• Proposing the educational qualification requirements for each educational staff position and developing the assessments required for appointment to such positions.
• Determining the types of training required to improve the performance of educational staff who receive performance evaluation ratings of below average or weak.
• Providing technical support, consultations, and specialized studies within its field of competence to local, Arab, and international authorities, institutions, companies, and associations upon request, for the fees determined by the Academy’s Board of Directors.

Laws and Regulations Governing the (PAT):

• Law No. 155 of 2007 on Education, its executive regulations, and amendments.
• Presidential Decree No. 129 of 2008 regulating the work of the Academy.