Education Ministers call for strategic shift in educational systems for future generations

TDT | Manama                                                               

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain Education Minister HE Dr. Mohamed bin Mubarak Juma stressed the need for education systems to move beyond a purely operational approach and adopt a more strategic perspective.

This shift involves ministries of education acting as policymakers rather than directly running schools, allowing both public and private institutions to contribute to the educational landscape.

He revealed this at the First Human Capability Initiative (HCI) Summit, held in Saudi Arabia. The summit brought together education ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region to discuss the need for education systems to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

While acknowledging the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitalization, the ministers emphasised the crucial role of culture, heritage, and moral values in shaping future generations.

A key challenge identified by Dr. Juma was the growing disconnect between the expectations of parents and the demands of the labour market. “Parents often expect schools to prepare students solely for careers, neglecting the importance of developing moral values,” he said.

The minister emphasised that education should not solely serve the needs of industry but also foster cultural understanding and a sense of heritage. While acknowledging the region’s strong performance in standardised tests like mathematics and science, Minister Juma highlighted the need to go beyond standardised testing and revise existing curriculum and teaching strategies.

He emphasised the importance of creating a system that caters to individual needs, as evidenced by the success of some schools in exceeding national and international standards in Bahrain. H.E. Yousef Abdullah AlBenyan, Minister of Education in Saudi Arabia, pointed to the crucial role of teachers in driving educational transformation.

He stressed the need to invest in their professional development and ensure a well-balanced curriculum incorporating both essential skills and core values. He highlighted the Saudi government’s efforts to increase early childhood education enrollment, aiming to reach 90% by 2030.

“The importance of education in fostering a competitive workforce and achieving the nation’s vision,” AlBenyan said. H.E. Buthaina Bint Ali Al Jahr AlNuaimi, Minister of Education for Qatar, acknowledged the pressure imposed by the labour market for digital literacy skills but emphasised the need to strike a balance between meeting those demands and maintaining the importance of cultural identity.

H.E. Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Higher Education in Malaysia, presented the ongoing transformation efforts within their education system. He mentioned reviewing policies and addressing specific issues to ensure their educational system aligns with evolving global trends. "Already, we reviewed our policies, and we have identified 45 policies to be revised and 854 issues to be addressed,” he said.

Adapting to demands

The HCI Summit underscored the need for education systems to adapt to the demands of the 21st century. While the ministers acknowledged the importance of technological advancements and equipping students with essential skills, they stressed the fundamental role of education in preserving cultural heritage, fostering moral values, and preparing well-rounded individuals for the future.

Striking a balance between these competing demands is the key challenge facing education systems around the world, and the HCI Summit served as a crucial platform for regional dialogue and collaboration in addressing this challenge.