Arab education sector 'needs major reform'

Dubai: The Arab education curricula has to undergo major reforms at all levels to stay abreast of the current challenges facing the Arab world, a minister warned yesterday.

"The challenges facing us are mounting and we need to confront them bravely and intelligently. Therefore, we should join hands and have better means of cooperation among us," said Dr Saleh Ali Basera, the Yemeni Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research yesterday.

"One of the most important and dynamic resolutions to restore the current Arab world's status is to reform our educational programmes and courses at all levels; starting from kindergarten to university studies," he said.

Addressing the 11th Conference of the Arab Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research which was held at Zayed University (ZU) yesterday, Dr Basera said: "Implementing the plan of modernisation and reformation of higher education will help in preparing a young generation, armed with knowledge, education and modern skills."

Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the conference was inaugurated by Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and ZU's President.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research organised the conference in cooperation with the Arab League for Education, Culture and Science Organisation (ALESCO).

Radical changes

Dr Al Munji Abu Senaina, ALESCO's Director, said: "The Arab society is currently facing a growing flow of information and knowledge ... these challenges require the Arab society to bring about radical changes to be able to cope with global changes."

Shaikh Nahyan said the conference stresses the importance of boosting the quality and standard of higher education and scientific research in the Arab world.

The conference also discussed the report of Prince Talal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, President of the Arab Gulf Programme for United Nations Development Organisation (AGFUND) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab League.

The report focused on programmes which were announced by the Arab League about the implementation of the first exceptional meeting of Arab Ministers of Higher Education.