In doing this, these people only repeat the pompous comments of educational theoreticians about the ailments of our education system; comments that boil down to nothing more than mistakes in the signs at the entrances of schools and other educational institutions.
Our schools are torn between abidance by the articles of the agreement with RAND Corporation in implementing their plans and objectives, and commitment to the instructions of the Supreme Education Council; instructions that mainly reflect the whims of a limited group of individuals inside the council, and are not based on national interest or our requirements.
The Ministry of Education is no longer in the picture as it continues to lose its way. The problem is that officials lack the zeal to get the Supreme Education Council officials out of the dark as far as the real condition of our education system is concerned. Council officials seem bent on going ahead with their policies although these policies have resulted in fatal mistakes. They are adamant on not conceding that they are not up to the job of reforming the education system in this country. This has made our education lose its noble meaning even as we continue to figuratively call it education.
Chaos and confusion reign supreme in the corridors of our schools and the offices of our educational institutions. The victims are always our sons and daughters, mothers and school workers. Abidance by sound educational rules could have saved these people all this suffering. Education should first return to its right track and then be upgraded and modified, and additions can follow, depending on the need of the hour.
How can education turn into a commodity or a commercial venture with schools converted into branches of companies aiming at profit? Is this the independence we have been promised?
Nations can be seriously threatened when their educational and health systems are turned into mere profit-oriented ventures, not ones aiming at utilising the intellectual capabilities of those nations.
Our educational and teaching talent has already quit the schools, having got tired of irresponsible practices whereby unqualified workers are promoted and worthy ones demoted. With all due respect to the Arab teachers in our schools, can a salary raise preserve the dignity of teachers and prevent the students from humiliating them?
Our esteemed teachers are subject to tremendous pressure, being judged by unfair performance assessment mechanisms applied by people who are far from being qualified for the job.
Why did slogans about the Arab and Muslim identity disappear from our school curricula? Our schools have opened their doors wide for experimentation (essentially destruction), claiming that adopting the sciences of others will take us several steps ahead. In doing this, these schools have done away with our history, language and educational values.
Books have turned into a lucrative business for a group of people who only care about their personal interests. Where have our original curricula gone?
We have been a part of the experience of the council and its schools. This experience has been nothing but precious time spent doing the wrong things and achieving disappointing results. Should we continue to do what we do now? When will the educational officials who caused all this mess concede their mistakes by either resigning or allowing themselves to be fired to pave the way for more qualified people to take their place? This will be the first step on the road to reform and saving a whole generation from worse and more dangerous things.
The bottom line here is that progress should not necessarily mean severing ties with our country’s roots. To be an advanced nation, we should not necessarily neglect our values and identity.
