Egyptian Schools Pioneer Ethical AI and Social Media Integration to Strengthen Student Focus, Wellbeing and Engagement
Cairo, Egypt - 7 December 2025 - Two teacher-led studies backed by the British Council's Action Research Grants Programme show how schools can turn digital habits and AI into practical learning gains while protecting student wellbeing. The projects, run at Ramses College for Girls in Cairo and Salahaldin International School in Alexandria, combine responsible digital practice, AI adoption, and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) to boost focus, participation, and academic outcomes.
Key results at a glance
- 100% of students increased awareness of how social media affects focus, memory, and wellbeing.
- 90% of students reported learning useful academic content through social platforms.
- 100% of teachers improved digital communication skills after structured training.
- 90% of teachers plan to integrate AI tools into lesson planning.
- SEL practices increased participation by 25% and reduced classroom conflict by 30%.
Ramses College for Girls: Turning digital habits into learning
High school principal Hala Tewfik led a whole-school effort to align classroom practice with students' daily digital realities. The approach combined a school-wide digital policy, psychologist-led workshops on cognitive health, and teacher training on AI-supported lesson design.
"Students today don't disconnect from digital life when they walk into school and neither should our teaching methods. Our goal was to guide students to use social media and AI responsibly, ethically, and in ways that support their learning," said Hala Tewfik.
Impact was immediate. Students deepened their understanding of how social media influences attention and memory, with 80% recognising its educational value at the school level. Across the wider programme, 90% reported learning useful academic content via social platforms. Teachers strengthened their online communication and reported higher confidence in integrating AI tools into daily teaching. The school community co-created a unified, ethical digital policy to embed responsible technology use across grades.
Salahaldin International School: SEL that lifts performance
In Alexandria, academic lead Mustafa Atas focused on the effect of SEL routines on learning and classroom climate. The data stood out: over 70% of students reported improved academic performance and confidence. Participation rose by 25% and behavioural conflicts dropped by 30%, confirming SEL's role in creating calmer, motivated classrooms.
Ammar Ahmed, Exams Director, British Council Egypt, said: "These studies show that emotional development and digital literacy are not competing priorities, together, they help build confident, balanced learners. When teachers are equipped with the right tools, evidence and leadership support, the impact extends far beyond individual classrooms."
How school leaders can replicate the wins
- Co-create a clear digital use policy with students, teachers, and parents. Make it visible and practical.
- Run psychologist-led workshops on attention, memory, and healthy device habits. Tie guidance to classroom routines.
- Train teachers on AI for lesson planning and feedback. Start with one tool and one use case per subject.
- Set guardrails for AI: citation, verification steps, and student-facing guidelines for ethical use.
- Model social media as a learning channel: curate subject playlists, accounts, and prompts to turn scrolling into study.
- Measure what matters: short pulse surveys, simple observation rubrics, and quick data reviews each term.
- Weave SEL into lessons daily (check-ins, goal setting, reflection). Consistency beats intensity.
Part of a global education effort
These Egypt-based studies are among 12 projects funded through the British Council's Action Research Grants Programme (second edition). The 2025 cycle spans Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Egypt, addressing shared priorities: AI integration, digital wellbeing, gender inclusion, and teacher development. Findings will be presented at the global online event Action Research Now! on 11-12 December 2025, offering practical insights that systems can adopt quickly.
Resources
- British Council - international programmes supporting schools, teachers, and learners.
- CASEL: Fundamentals of SEL - evidence-based frameworks for implementing SEL with fidelity.
- Complete AI Training: Courses by Job - practical AI training paths for educators exploring lesson planning, feedback, and assessment use cases.
About the British Council
The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. It supports peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and worldwide. The organisation works in over 200 countries and territories and is on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2024-25, it reached 599 million people globally.
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