JEDDAH, 12 December 2006 — E-learning is a buzzword these days. Considering the attention and financial allotment the education sector in the Kingdom is receiving, one would think that our education system is geared up to accommodate all the latest achievements in the education technology.
This seems far from the truth, according to an official in Riyadh involved with the education technology and communications. In an interview with the Arabic-language Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper recently, Khaled Al-Zamil, who manages the education technology for 15 schools currently experimenting with computer-assisted learning.
“We require a systematic training plan under the direct and rigorous supervision of the Ministry of Education so that the topic is taken up earnestly by all the institutions and teachers and the students derive maximum benefit from it,” said Al-Zamil.
“Unfortunately the rate of success in our experiment is nil. Though we have appointed trained teachers for e-learning , they claim that the new system does not benefit students nor develop their skills.”
Al-Zamil, who advocates introducing e-learning initially in the areas of mathematics and science, says many teachers are adverse to implementing e-learning.
A Riyadh parent narrated how he was appalled by the attitude of his secondary-school going son’s teacher toward the education technology. When he asked his son why he was still toiling with pen and pencil when he had a computer, printer and all other latest devices for fast learning, the boy said his teacher told him never to prepare answers or assignments with the aid of computer.
“The teacher said: Use pen and paper only!” the son said, while his parents wonder how the country can advance in education and compete with others if teachers still harbor such regressive mindsets.
Muhammad Al-Otaibi, director of the e-learning department at Riyadh’s Education Administration stressed the need for implementing e-learning in its ideal manner with the required planning and special funds.
He said he would like to see e-learning as part of the curriculum in the next five years. Al-Otaibi also says a media campaign should be launched to educate the public and teachers to the benefits of computer-assisted learning.
