Common Ground News Service

Moroccan Youth Take Initiative To Reform Society

Moroccan Youth Take Initiative To Reform Society

NADIA RABBAA, CGNEWS: End corruption, reform the judicial system, better access to education and better healthcare. Key demands of Moroccan youth organisations

 Abu Muhammed

Literacy: The Fatal Flaw At Heart of Saudi Academia

Literacy: The Fatal Flaw At Heart of Saudi Academia

ABU MOHAMMED: The way in which Saudi university students is taught simply does not encourage independent, critical thought. Maybe not a problem.

 Susie of Arabia

‘Proud to Be A Thug’: Saudi Vandals Speak

SUSIE OF ARABIA: School’s out in the Kingdom and it’s the time for teachers, supervisors and school cleaners to be afraid.

 Abu Muhammed

Disaster: ‘Wasta’ Undermines Saudi Education System

Disaster: ‘Wasta’ Undermines Saudi Education System

ABU MOHAMMED: I couldn’t help myself. The culture of cheating induced a rant at my students. They didn’t understand. ‘This is life’, one of them replied

 American Bedu

‘Diploma Mill’: Easy Qualification for Some Saudis

‘Diploma Mill’: Easy Qualification for Some Saudis

AMERICAN BEDU: It’s a determinant of salary and position in many organisations but how useful is a university degree for Saudi citizens?

 Rob L. Wagner

Valuable Lessons: School Dress Codes in Saudi

Valuable Lessons: School Dress Codes in Saudi

ROB L. WAGNER: Enforcing dress codes is not only entirely normal, it sets up kids for life in the values and disciplines doing so instills.

 Eman-Al-Nafjan

Saudi Education: Could Do A Lot Better

Saudi Education: Could Do A Lot Better

EMAN AL NAFJAN: There seems to be no will to change the Saudi education system. It’s in need of a major overhaul

 Alexander McNabb

UAE School Holiday Plan: Curriculum Mayhem

UAE School Holiday Plan: Curriculum Mayhem

ALEXANDER MCNABB: Teachers will be torn between exasperation at having to fit so much more in and glee at getting (even) longer holidays.

 Rob L. Wagner

Saudi University Demos ‘Unnerve Authorities’

Saudi University Demos ‘Unnerve Authorities’

ROB L. WAGNER: The normally tranquil King Khalid University has seen violent demonstrations over recent days.

 Rob L. Wagner

‘My Heart Says Stay, My Head Says Go Home’

‘My Heart Says Stay, My Head Says Go Home’

ROB L. WAGNER: Female students returning to Saudi Arabia from studies abroad are finding they have limited, restrictive options.

 David Roberts

‘Rule by Whim’: More Thought Needed in Qatar

‘Rule by Whim’: More Thought Needed in Qatar

DAVID ROBERTS: The decision to impose Arabic as the official teaching language of Qatar University effective in nine months is ill-conceived and does not sit with the country’s international aspirations.

 Common Ground News Service

Tunisian Universities ‘Battleground’ for Ideologies

Tunisian Universities ‘Battleground’ for Ideologies

OMEZZINE KHELIFA, CGNEWS: The birth pangs of the new, democratic Tunisia are proving to be painful with a polarisation of society into two conflicting camps possible. Which side will triumph?

 Abu Muhammed

Rethinking Education To Build Real Saudi Prosperity

Rethinking Education To Build Real Saudi Prosperity

ABU MUHAMMED: The only thing stopping Saudi from becoming a superpower is Saudi. A nation cannot truly be great until it can educate its own.

 Steve Royston

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

2012 and Beyond: The Many Reasons to be Both Fearful – and Cheerful

STEVE ROYSTON looks at the arts, society, education, politics, business, technology and the environment as we move into 2012, the Year of Fear’.

 Crossroads Arabia

Saudi Universities Producing ‘Unemployable’ Graduates

Saudi Universities Producing ‘Unemployable’ Graduates

CROSSROADS ARABIA: There is a huge problem with third level education in the Kingdom. But will anything ever be done about it?

 Crossroads Arabia

Learning English in the Kingdom: ‘Could Do Better’

Learning English in the Kingdom: ‘Could Do Better’

CROSSROADS ARABIA: English is vital in today’s interconnected world. The problem: in Saudi teaching it is not treated seriously.

 Rob L. Wagner

Deadly Blaze Throws Spotlight on Saudi Girls Schools

Deadly Blaze Throws Spotlight on Saudi Girls Schools

ROB L. WAGNER: A teacher, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said there are significant differences in safety features between boys and girls schools.

 The View From Fez

The Joy of Learning for Atlas Mountain Girls

The Joy of Learning for Atlas Mountain Girls

DEREK WORKMAN, VIEW FROM FEZ: An initiative to provide for the education of a group of young girls in the High Atlas has had an unexpected impact.

 Crossroads Arabia

The ‘Takfir’ Mindset: A Major Saudi Problem

The ‘Takfir’ Mindset: A Major Saudi Problem

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Teaching methods in the Kingdom encourage diktat of authority rather than dialogue and debate. The consequence is profound for society at large.

 Common Ground News Service

Education is key to creating ‘culture of peace’ in Egypt

Education is key to creating ‘culture of peace’ in Egypt

JOSEPH MAYTON, CGNEWS: Sectarian interpretation of the country’s history is a big problem in Egyptian education. An approach that recognises and celebrates the contribution of ‘the Other’ is long overdue.