RIYADH: Diversity is part of human nature and gaps among different points of views can be mended through dialogue, said Nora Al-Fayez, deputy minister of education, while speaking at the concluding session of the Certified Trainers Forum on Monday.
Dialogue has to be a part of every citizen’s culture, regardless of age, gender or occupation, said Al-Fayez, while addressing a session on “Integrated Roles of the Ministry of Education and Universities in Promoting Dialogue.”
“As many as 150,000 people have benefited from the programs and workshops organized by the King Abdulaziz Center for National Dialogue (KACND),” said Al-Fayez, adding that the Ministry of Education has signed a five-year agreement with the KACND on the issue.
She added that the ministry is working hand in hand with the KACND to promote dialogue by training hundreds of ministry employees into becoming certified trainers. Al-Fayez said the trainers have executed 2,677 training programs and workshops for both men and women.
The ministry is also undertaking several programs among students to promote dialogue. These include extra curricular activities, Islamic awareness programs, summer camps and workshops. “In this respect, we are holding 165 summer camps for girls and 331 for boys in different parts of the Kingdom,” said Al-Fayez.
Princess Al-Jawhara bint Fahd Al-Saud, rector of the Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University, has also undertaken the task of carrying out the KACND-vision of spreading a culture of dialogue. She said since faculty members are the backbone of the education system, the university is adamant on training them on the skills of thinking and debating.
“Twenty-five staff members were trained as certified trainers at the KACND who in their turn trained 50 faculty members,” she added.
