Education: Too many cooks spoil…

Mufleh Al-Qahtani DESPITE the presence of excellent education models and distinguished academic results that cannot be ignored, experts believe that the education system in the Kingdom is replete with problems requiring strenuous efforts to revamp the system and improve its standard. There are differences of opinion on the reasons for the weak education system in the country. Academics have presented their views on how to improve the system and overcome present problems. At the same time, we have to know that educational reforms depend more on the society’s culture and intellectual status than its material progress and capabilities. In order to solve the problems, we have to first admit that there are problems in the Kingdom’s educational system and discuss the reasons behind them. Instead of highly qualified academics tackling the issue, we have seen non-academics expressing their opinion on the subject because some people wanted to exploit the sector to realize their vested interests. Many others have expressed their views on this topic without any deep knowledge required for improving the country’s educational standard or without knowing the seriousness of the problem. It is unfortunate that education has become a field in which every Tom, Dick or Harry expresses his/her opinion without knowing the extent or vastness of the issue. In this respect I have noticed a report published by an electronic newspaper. The report covers Saudi universities and explains some of their shortcomings and problems. As the person who prepared the report was not an expert in the field, it contained a number of mistakes and incorrect information. He wrote in the report that only three universities have received institutional accreditation while the actual number is five. The report considered universities like government departments that should work for fighting unemployment in the country and that it should employ all applicants who have obtained higher scientific degrees. The report did not give any importance to the philosophy of education and its standards. The report did not consider the educational philosophy and its role intellectual and mind building. Education is not a job anybody can do. The report, which was published by a widely read newspaper, emphasized that Saudi universities should spend a lot of money on research. The discussion of education issues by people who are not experts in the field will have a negative impact on the system and will make its problems more complicated. Education is our identity and our launch pad to progress. Educational problems should be tackled by experts with a futuristic vision, who are conversant about its philosophy and know the dimensions of the issue and its limits. They should be capable of setting out mechanisms to solve problems in an objective and gradual manner. They should believe in the philosophy of education and its role in developing and shaping human minds and brains to take the country to new heights of progress and prosperity.