Education Min. says scientific research linked to development

KUWAIT, Dec 13 (KUNA) -- Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Mohammad Al-Fares highlighted on Tuesday the need to revamp scientific research for increased development and to reap the rewards of a boom in technology.
In a speech to open the 38th session of the Federation of Arab Scientific Research Councils (FASRC), Al-Fares noted that the Arab world has long been a pioneer in scientific research, citing a golden era where Europe and the Western world lagged far behind.
Moreover, the Minister of Education underscored the need to prioritize technological research in the Arab world, where spending on research merely amounts to 0.5 percent, adding that the two-day meeting allows representatives of Arab nations to exchange views on strategies to develop scientific research.
Meanwhile, on Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), he described it as a bastion of technological research, noting that KISR's inception is a testament to the country's cognizance of the importance of scientific research.
In a speech of his own, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Dr. Azhari Abdulbaqi said that scientific research is the cornerstone of human knowledge and a major indicator of global development.
Representative of the Arab League Ambassador Waleed Othman pointed out that scientific research is an integral component of development, as he spoke of the dire need to establish concerted efforts to promote research and creativity.
Similarly, Secretary General of FASRC Dr. Mubarak Majthoub said that research and development are often inextricably linked, urging Arab leaders to step up efforts to support research endeavors. (end) abd.nam