The Deputy Saudi Minister of Education, Dr. Saad Al-Mulais, admitted his ministry has to bear partial responsibility for the terrorist incidents witnessed by the Kingdom over the past years. He was quoted as saying the education establishment should be considered a party to what has happened in the past, either for turning a blind eye or other reasons.
The deputy minister was speaking at a symposium on education and intellectual security attended by educators and school supervisors from all over the Kingdom. He called on education supervisors not to abandon their responsibility to spread intellectual security among students of both sexes as well as promoting moderate thought and tolerance of other opinions.
I remember the outgoing minister, Dr. Muhammad Al-Rasheed, making the same demand of teachers and educators. The problem is obvious for everyone to see. Some education supervisors — both teachers and administrators — seem to have forgotten their primary role and have over time turned into preachers. The students listen to sermons and take lessons in what is haram (unlawful) and what is halal (lawful) more than they learn from the prescribed curriculum.
Dr. Al-Mulais is a career educator who undoubtedly knows that the solution to this problem lies not in stiffer penalties but rather in dialogue and convincing others.
Those teachers and supervisors who promote extremism carry such bizarre thoughts that they issued edicts banning television and the national anthem. The beliefs they preach urge people to renounce worldly pleasures and express their desire for death. They look down with hatred upon followers of other religious sects.
What the ministry should do is launch a major campaign to fight this extremist thought and prevent it from taking over our schools. The campaign must be vigorous, concerted and have clear objectives. The media, especially television, must be extensively involved. Any confrontation with this thought must be head-on and focus on what this takfiri ideology teaches. It wouldn’t be difficult to identify, study and analyze these ideas and explain their dangers to the public.
The ultimate objective should be to convince the holders of these beliefs of their wrong approach and bring them back to the fold. The objective should always be to inoculate our school children against this extremist ideology.
Admitting the problem is the first step toward the solution. We must always remember that making threats is no solution, and that it is not enough to call on educators to shoulder their responsibility because some of these educators are themselves part of the problem. The public should know what the extremists say and what the true religion says. Otherwise, ministers and others will continue talking while the extremists take action. There is a great difference between talk and action.
