By Mervat Abdul-Daym
KUWAIT, Feb 24 (KUNA) -- Through its strategy for 2005-2025, the Ministry of Education charted the course and portrait of general education as well as the means and targets of the modernization process taking stock of the challenges of the internal and external environment.
The strategic objectives reflect a range of factors that determine the role of education in the development process, the parameters of success in delivering the message specified in the strategy and specific ends of the educational reforms.
The strategy sets forth the general framework of the social contract on the course of compulsory education in meeting the needs of the society - as individuals and institutions, and in bringing about changes in the educational systems.
In this connection, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education Dr. Bader Al-Isa said the policy of the Ministry of Education is in keeping with the global technological revolution.
"The Ministry started modernizing the schools and equipping them with the state-of-the-art technologies. As part of the e-learning system, the Ministry turned a number of school buildings into smart ones or green buildings that are environment friendly.
"The e-learning process, including all facilities for students such as tablets, will be leveraged across all the current and future schools," the minister affirmed.
Dr. Al-Isa noted that the ministry, in collaboration with global corporations, has already set plans for empowering the teachers and making sure that they are capable of mastering the e-learning technologies. The Ministry had signed an agreement with Microsoft on training programs for teachers who will, in turn, train students on the best practices in in educational technology, he went on.
"The Ministry, in cooperation with the National Center for Education Development (NCED) and the World Bank, developed plans for e-learning in an interactive way that involves students, parents and teachers and contributes to ending the phenomenon of the so-called private lessons by 2025," the minister revealed.
There are plans to modernize curriculums in keeping with the technological advancements that could enable students to understand the subjects and encourage their creativity instead of learning by heart, thus qualifying them to be productive persons in the future.
Dr. Al-Isa pointed out that the modernization process entails originality and modernity with a view to preserving our Arab, Gulf and Islamic identity, and social values and traditions.
He noted that the status of the general education in Kuwait in 2025 will be of Singaporean style given the fact that Singapore is one of the world's most advanced countries in terms of education.
"The advancement of the educational system in Singapore, capitalizing on man and human development, brought about the country's economic miracle," the minister added.
Meanwhile, NCED Director Dr. Subeeh Al-Mokhaizim said in similar statements to KUNA that the educational strategy aims to modernize curricula, build the capacity of teachers and lead to qualified graduates who have the specific skills needed for their future careers.
"The high school education, in particular, needs careful revision and introduction of vocational and technical training in keeping with the needs of the labor market," he said.
"The strategy aims also to integrate the students with discrepancies in education and those with special needs into the various stages of the educational system through assessing and resolving the difficulties facing them.
The strategy also attaches importance to the early learning and the pre-kindergarten stage, Al-Mokhaizim said, noting that there are plans for integrating the kindergarten stage into the compulsory system.
He noted that it is important for students to rely on different sources for their study alongside the school books to provide them with skills needed to succeed in the their educational life.
The e-learning system will involve all types of school subjects, using different tools and methods for students to better understand their studies, the official said.
Al-Mokhaizim meanwhile, added that an evaluation system is vital to measure the outcome of the e-learning process and its impact on students, to execute the neccessary reforms and development.
Moreover, the ministry is seeking to create further cooperation and dialogue between schools and parents to follow up on the performance of the students, he said. The modernization plan aims to provide the highest levels of proper education that prepares students to continue their future studies in international universities, he added.(end) mrf.gb.ag