Experts stress urgent need to reshape education for future
Education Minister Jalal Al-Tabtabaei stressed the need for regional collaboration to address the opportunities and challenges of transforming education in the Gulf, preparing future generations for sustainable development.
• Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, the Education Minister, stated that education is no longer limited to the transfer of knowledge but now includes the development of life skills and innovative capabilities that enable children to adapt to the demands of the new era.
• Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the GCC, emphasized that education is the key to progress and development across various fields, with joint educational efforts receiving the full attention of the GCC leaders.
• Dr. Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Asmi, Director of the Arab Center for Educational Research for the Gulf States, stressed the need to intensify efforts to achieve the objectives of the conference and generate valuable recommendations that will enhance the future of education in the Gulf countries.
Educational officials and experts emphasized the urgent need to reshape the education system to align with future demands, as reported by Al Qabas newspaper.
This took place during the opening of the Fourth International Conference, organized by the Arab Center for Educational Research, under the theme “Transforming Education: Opportunities and Challenges to Promote the Future of Education in the Gulf Countries” on Tuesday.
Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, the Education Minister, stated that education is no longer limited to the transfer of knowledge but now includes the development of life skills and innovative capabilities that enable children to adapt to the demands of the new era.
Al-Tabtabaei emphasized the need to explore the opportunities and challenges facing education transformation in the Gulf countries, with the goal of preparing future generations to tackle these challenges and achieve sustainable development. He noted that this requires collective efforts, not only at the local level but also at the regional level.
He described the conference as a vital platform for exchanging ideas and visions on the future of education, particularly in light of the rapid transformations the world is experiencing, including technological advancements, socio-economic changes, and human development.
Education is a top priority among Gulf countries
For his part, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), stated that education is a top priority among Gulf countries and serves as the foundation of joint Gulf action. He emphasized that education is the key to progress and development across various fields, with joint educational efforts receiving the full attention of the GCC leaders.
Albudaiwi noted that the collective educational efforts of the GCC countries have attracted significant attention from their leaders. He pointed out that their visions have been translated into recommendations, initiatives, and achievements, including the adoption of the 2022 Future Plan for Education Cooperation, the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan for Higher Education and Scientific Research Cooperation, and the launch of the Gulf Information Base (Jisr) project, which supports scientific research and academic work in higher education across the GCC countries, as well as the improvement of school infrastructure.
Albudaiwi stressed that the GCC countries have made significant progress in enhancing the education environment, increasing participation in education, achieving gender parity, and developing school infrastructure.
Dr. Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Asmi, Director of the Arab Center for Educational Research for the Gulf States, emphasized the need to intensify efforts to achieve the objectives of the conference and generate valuable recommendations that will enhance the future of education in the Gulf countries.
He further highlighted the importance of strengthening joint cooperation between Gulf countries by supporting exceptional educational initiatives and programs implemented by various GCC bodies.
Dr. Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Asmi noted that the conference is being held at a critical time, as the world faces rapid advancements in modern technologies and profound political, economic, and social transformations. These developments underscore the necessity of reformulating the education system to meet the future’s demands.
Four ways to reform education system
- Work to improve the quality of education.
- Support scientific research and academic work.
- Prepare future generations to face challenges.
- Keep up with the requirements of the labor market and the technological boom.
Education Transformation Summit
Dr. Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Asmi noted that this conference represents one of the Gulf’s responses to the outcomes and recommendations of the Education Transformation Summit held in New York in 2022. However, we recognize that the unique nature of the Gulf experience and the challenges it faces require us to reformulate the foundational concepts that guided the launch of the Education Transformation Summit.
