Long expected changes to education in the Kingdom finally materialise

Dubai: It was shortly after 9/11 attacks, when the Saudi society came under the Western microscope.

Since then, calls started to pour on the Kingdom to introduce changes in many aspects of daily life, including school curriculum, and to be more open with the rest of the world.

The changes were needed to repair the image of the oil-rich kingdom abroad, distorted by the fact that the majority of the attackers were Saudis.

Some westerners and Saudis blamed the terrorism on the "narrow-minded" education system which they said had failed to keep up with other field advancements in Saudi society.

Others called for more openness in the society and a lifting of the veil imposed on role of women, as a way to defend the country and boost its image in the face of its critics.

Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, last Saturday, took the first step towards reforms, reshuffling the cabinet, naming new religious figures and appointing the first-ever female minister.

Citizens applauded the changes, and hoped for more steps to follow.

"Nobody denies that 9/11 has changed everything," eminent Saudi writer Fatin Bundagji said. "An internal awakening was recorded [afterwards]& The country was shocked that 15 out of 19 attackers were from its sons."

Millions of Saudis were also "victims" and now it is the time to "fix" things, she said.

Making changes to the school curriculum is a starting point for building future generations, analysts believe.

"Even before the West took it against us, we took it against the [educational] institutions in the Kingdom that they are not progressive& It generates many negative feelings," said Waheed Hamza Hashem, a Jeddah-based political scientist.

Apart from the need to give more attention to scientific and technical subjects, and to nurture "creative characters and [a] progressive way of thinking", analysts believe there is also a need to start teaching foreign languages from early stages, as well as the cultures of others out of the belief that "to defend our causes we need to know more about others' issues".

"Developing the education system requires a successful partnership between students and teachers as well," Bundagji said. "It will not happen today or tomorrow."

Yet, "a time-table" to introduce changes is certainly hoped for, Bundagji said.

Experts say achieving transparency and building communication bridges between ministerial departments and the public would produce positive results.

Among the prominent faces to emerge after the reshuffle is Nora Al Fayez, a veteran administrator.

She was appointed as deputy education minister for women's education - the highest position ever held by a woman in the modern history of Saudi Arabia.

There is a general impression, mainly outside Saudi Arabia, that women inside the kingdom are oppressed. However, Saudi women have many success stories to narrate in the business and education fields.

"This is a strategic and historic decision," Hashem said. "It is a precedent that will open the door for a bigger participation for females that would reach political participation," he added.

Hashem strongly believes that choosing a woman to fill a position in the top hierarchy of education was a "definitely a well-studied move."

Traditionally, female political participation in the Arab world has started through either the education or the social development sectors. From there, many success stories were recorded and the male-dominated societies got accustomed to women in decision-making positions.

Saudi Arabia is not an exception. "It was not possible to choose a woman for a ministerial-level position in the health or labour or economy ministries, because this is a premature move in a tribal society, where traditions and norms are considered conservative," Hashem said.