Schools are almost ready to open their doors to students. The question is what educational curriculum we have prepared for them. We have heard and read many times about changing the curriculum, especially the religious one.
We will of course accept change in many things but we will never agree to change our religion.
The Qur’an is the word of God and there is no way that we could consider changing any of its words. For many years we have called for changes in some of the subjects taught in our schools so that they would move with the times. We wanted an end to attacks on our system and we asked for changes to our school curriculum so that it could help to build the nation.
Those who went through our educational system were good at memorizing but not good at thinking independently and becoming leaders.
Our educational curriculum does not suit our young people and the result was that many from outside the country interfered in what was our own internal matter.
Many teachers have told me of reports they wrote to Education Ministry officials complaining about the curriculum and educational policy. No one will be surprised to hear that none of them ever received an answer.
The thing that we should notice is who — or what — chooses the curriculum. Those who write our school curriculum are old people and we see a big gap between them and our young people. The young do not understand the language of the old. For example, when we look at elementary and middle school mathematics, we find that numerical puzzles difficult for the old to solve but which the young must memorize.
As for middle and high school chemistry and physics, it is equal to what students in the university are learning. Religious texts are taken from the writings of scholars and their contents and style do not suit our students. There is too much concentration on what is allowed and what is forbidden. Instead the focus should be on the life of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions.
By looking closely at their lives, students will learn by example what is forbidden and what is allowed. In whatever we do which pertains to education, we must always remember that the first word in the Holy Qur’an is “Read!”
- Arab News Local Press 8 September 2003
