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Annual symposium stresses the importance of maintaining cultural identity in a global era |
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Type: Press Release Date: 17 March 2009
“Preserving our cultural identity is not the province of one individual or institution - it is everyone’s responsibility,” said HE Sheikha Ahmed Al Mahmoud, Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the SEC. “Our schools in particular have unique role in ensuring the next generation’s social and cultural development through the curricula and educational programs, and especially strengthening relations between the school and family to create a conducive environment for developing good citizenship.” Through Education for a New Era, Qatar seeks to build a world-class education system by incorporating the best education practices from around the world while simultaneously placing a priority on the teaching of religion, Arabic, Islamic values, and culture. “Qatar, despite its small area has proved to the world its role and ability to recognize the effects of globalization with an open Arabic and Islamic understanding,” said HE Al Mahmoud. “Our schools are improving their systems, developing their curricula, and raising their standards while staying rooted to their values and Arabic and Islamic identities.”
As a leading international scholar of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, Prof. Suleiman has led many accreditation committees in ministries of higher education throughout the Arab World. He is very familiar with Qatar and its education reform efforts, having helped the Education Institute write the Arabic curriculum standards.
“The notion that globalization will engulf Arab and Muslim societies and destroy them is in my view an exaggeration that should be challenged,” Prof. Suleiman said. “Arab and Muslim societies have withstood the test of time. They are not recent or concocted creations. They may feel challenged now, but this challenge should not be interpreted as an existential crisis of identity.”
Mohammad Abdulla Taymour, co-founder and Vice President of Academic Affairs of Al Yarmouk Independent Preparatory School for Boys and Salwa Abdullah Ahmed El Sada, Arabic Coordinator for Al Wakra Independent Secondary School for Girls discussed how their schools integrate culture and values in their schooling experiences.
HE Al Mahmoud also inaugurated an exhibition featuring displays by a number of schools depicting aspects of how they integrate culture, values, traditions and customs into their curriculum or school experience.
This is the sixth symposium held by the Supreme Education Council since Education for a New Era was launched. The annual symposium brings together leading international experts from around the world, with Qatari experts, to address the most important, timely and cutting-edge education issues. Previous symposia have focused on creativity, technology in education, international assessments and parental involvement. |
Educators, Supreme Education Council (SEC) officials, a leading international scholar, and parents discussed the impact of foreign influences on our children’s identity and the role schools can play in our children’s moral and cultural education during the SEC’s sixth annual symposium on Monday, March 16, 2009 at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Prof. Yasir Suleiman, the keynote speaker said, “Instead of resisting globalization, we should be asking ourselves how we could make it consistent with our values as Arab and Muslim societies that are deeply rooted in their traditions and history, but that are also open to the world. We must also ask ourselves how we can incorporate globalization into our lives in a meaningful and responsible way. The process is dialogic: both globalization and us will need to make adjustments and adaptations.”
