This is with reference to the article “Memoirs of a Saudi Ph.D. student: The responsibility of schools” (May 11) by Hatoon Kadi. The writer has highlighted an important issue, which is not unique to Saudi Arabia. The entire Muslim world is facing this issue. The education system in most of the Muslim countries is outdated and based on the centuries-old practice of rote learning. Most of the Muslim world had experienced colonial rule. Colonial masters deliberately devised a system of education aimed at producing people with no opinion of their own and with no analytical skills. Unfortunately, the same system continued after gaining independence from the colonial rule. There is a great need to overhaul our education system and to bring it in line with the needs of the modern world. The manner in which the new Saudi leadership is introducing changes at various levels show that soon we will hear good news about the education system as well. — Hareem Ahmed, Dammam
Education woes
