Comments on: [FIKR6] Education, The digital Arab http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/ An Arab man's attempt at bridging the cultural gap and trying to make a difference. Failing a lot. Succeeding once in a while. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:28:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Global Voices Online » Bahrain: Fikr 6 - Changing the World http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/comment-page-1/#comment-105035 Global Voices Online » Bahrain: Fikr 6 - Changing the World Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:39:22 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/#comment-105035 [...] Mahmood reports on a session about education he chaired: It was agreed that modern education is the missing catalyst in the Arab world, a situation which must be corrected at all levels and completely overhauled should we wish to be part of this technologically advanced era. […] The political situation in many parts of the Arab world coupled with the dearth of opportunities for young minds provide a fertile ground for frustration, one that possibly leads to that young mind to prefer foreign lands for furthering their education or indeed to emigrate to in the hope of more respect, remuneration and a wealth of other opportunities. The “brain-drain”; however, is not that simple. The panel suggested that for enterprising minds the world over, geographical limits are immaterial, and in a lot of cases this migration is actually beneficial to the person’s country of origin or community as when the resources are provided, then the result of that migration will cross the physical geographical border and have a positive impact on the community as a whole. [...] [...] Mahmood reports on a session about education he chaired: It was agreed that modern education is the missing catalyst in the Arab world, a situation which must be corrected at all levels and completely overhauled should we wish to be part of this technologically advanced era. […] The political situation in many parts of the Arab world coupled with the dearth of opportunities for young minds provide a fertile ground for frustration, one that possibly leads to that young mind to prefer foreign lands for furthering their education or indeed to emigrate to in the hope of more respect, remuneration and a wealth of other opportunities. The “brain-drain”; however, is not that simple. The panel suggested that for enterprising minds the world over, geographical limits are immaterial, and in a lot of cases this migration is actually beneficial to the person’s country of origin or community as when the resources are provided, then the result of that migration will cross the physical geographical border and have a positive impact on the community as a whole. [...]

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]]> By: mahmood http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/comment-page-1/#comment-104529 mahmood Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:25:49 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/#comment-104529 and I totally agree, so does the architect of the educational reforms. There are exciting things happening in this regard - and not just in Bahrain but the whole area - if the FIKR conference workshops'- and panels'-recommendations are enacted. I think <a href="http://elzeeyed.com/ydome" rel="nofollow">Yagoob's Dome</a> will be covering the education aspect of the conference in the next couple of days. You might find what he has to say in this regard interesting. and I totally agree, so does the architect of the educational reforms.

There are exciting things happening in this regard – and not just in Bahrain but the whole area – if the FIKR conference workshops’- and panels’-recommendations are enacted. I think Yagoob’s Dome will be covering the education aspect of the conference in the next couple of days. You might find what he has to say in this regard interesting.

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]]> By: Lee Ann http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/comment-page-1/#comment-104526 Lee Ann Tue, 04 Dec 2007 09:10:53 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/#comment-104526 Education of the young is a vital step in advancing the cause of Arabs in general and Bahraini's specifically. When I see the books the Ministry of Education hands out each year...year after year...I sometimes wonder who the hecks in charge of checking on facts, spelling, presentation etc. Some of those books have been around for the whole 14 years my kids have been attending govt schools...and the gap in whats in those books and whats going on in the world today is Grand Canyon in size. You guys got to overhaul and be willing to change almost the whole educational process. Its all memorizing with nothing retained....I can remember things I learned, how and by whom from gradeschool...my kids cant remember something from last year. There is no encouragement or system of teaching that promotes "learning"(to remember and use later) as opposed to "memorizing"(to forget once the information is used....for a test etc). When Bahraini teens are ready to enter college...its like having to learn to be a student, a proper student, all over again. They have to learn to learn and not memorize....to do research and not copy and paste...to use the library...which frankly, gets almost no use in govt schools here. Many of them are double shocked...the natural shock that comes with entering college...and the shock when they realize they have no idea how to go about being a college student...then they have to waste precious time "catching up" with other properly educated students. Its a huge let down for Baharain in my opinion...our children deserve the very best the govt can afford(unless your lucky enough to afford private) and yet the govt is giving a second class education to a all ready educationally weak country. Again, all my own opinion. Education of the young is a vital step in advancing the cause of Arabs in general and Bahraini’s specifically. When I see the books the Ministry of Education hands out each year…year after year…I sometimes wonder who the hecks in charge of checking on facts, spelling, presentation etc. Some of those books have been around for the whole 14 years my kids have been attending govt schools…and the gap in whats in those books and whats going on in the world today is Grand Canyon in size. You guys got to overhaul and be willing to change almost the whole educational process. Its all memorizing with nothing retained….I can remember things I learned, how and by whom from gradeschool…my kids cant remember something from last year. There is no encouragement or system of teaching that promotes “learning”(to remember and use later) as opposed to “memorizing”(to forget once the information is used….for a test etc).

When Bahraini teens are ready to enter college…its like having to learn to be a student, a proper student, all over again. They have to learn to learn and not memorize….to do research and not copy and paste…to use the library…which frankly, gets almost no use in govt schools here. Many of them are double shocked…the natural shock that comes with entering college…and the shock when they realize they have no idea how to go about being a college student…then they have to waste precious time “catching up” with other properly educated students.

Its a huge let down for Baharain in my opinion…our children deserve the very best the govt can afford(unless your lucky enough to afford private) and yet the govt is giving a second class education to a all ready educationally weak country. Again, all my own opinion.

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]]> By: mahmood http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/comment-page-1/#comment-104492 mahmood Mon, 03 Dec 2007 02:53:04 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/#comment-104492 The nature of the conference is a "think tank" rather than an open forum; hence, the attendance by invitation only. I am sure they sponsor more open fora in order to illicit views etc, that would be part of the recommendations of such a conference. The nature of the conference is a “think tank” rather than an open forum; hence, the attendance by invitation only. I am sure they sponsor more open fora in order to illicit views etc, that would be part of the recommendations of such a conference.

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]]> By: ammaro.com http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/comment-page-1/#comment-104490 ammaro.com Sun, 02 Dec 2007 23:48:58 +0000 http://mahmood.tv/2007/12/02/fikr6-education-the-digital-arab/#comment-104490 It's a great start. More of this sort of thing should be held, and it should actually be publicized more and made more accessible. Currently attendance is limited to the big-guns, but i'm sure many people out there would be more than willing to participate or at least listen to what is being said. Overall, a great effort, and I look forward to the upcoming ones. It’s a great start. More of this sort of thing should be held, and it should actually be publicized more and made more accessible. Currently attendance is limited to the big-guns, but i’m sure many people out there would be more than willing to participate or at least listen to what is being said. Overall, a great effort, and I look forward to the upcoming ones.

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