Why is everyone is playing the blame-game, trying to figure out whether the current higher-education mess is the fault of private universities or lack of government regulation and standards for them?
The simple answer is that here in Bahrain, as well as anywhere else in the Arab World, it is much easier for us to blame someone else than to fix the problem. Everyone wants part of the glory, but when the shit hits the fan, no one will claim responsibility.
I must admit, that when this situation began, I played my own part in this blame-game, sometimes blaming the Ministry of Education (MoE), but mostly blaming private universities for their greed and lack of ethical and moral standards.
I remain convinced that private universities are the ones with the most blood on their hands. However, I am also convinced that behind all this will be a positive outcome and at the end of the day, this education mess is good for Bahrain.
True, it might have damaged the reputation of Bahrain’s education system. True, it has screwed over students, both current and past, but only in the short-run.
Education reform, or any reform in Bahrain for that matter, is an evolutionary process. That is partly due to our transition from developing country to developed country, although we still have a lot of developing to do before we reach our end goal.
Be optimistic. Just like any other evolutionary process, the fit will survive and the weak will be swept away. In the end, Bahrain will have a better regulated private higher-education system with only the best of the private institutions offering over-valued degrees.
Showing posts with label Ministry of Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ministry of Education. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Hurray for post-secondary education reform!!
I’ve always felt bad for anyone that has the misfortune of being the Minister of Education (MoE). Not only must he carry the burden of ensuring that kids receive a proper education, which is a huge responsibility, but he must also attend the very boring and redundant graduation ceremonies of numerous post-secondary institutions (I can count 13 off the top of my head). Frankly, I think that it is improper for a gentlemen of that standing to have to waste his evening with something like this after putting up long hours at work, all while having to put on a stiff smile while handing degrees to kids in funny hats and loud make-up.
If you think that’s bad, imagine how awful it must be for Dr. Majid al-Nuaimi to sort out the post-secondary education mess. Since Bahrain decided to allow the creation of private universities not too long ago, they have mushroomed all across the country. Some in Manama, and some in Saar. Some built actual campuses, while some are on top of Jasmi’s! The situation was bound for disaster, since they all set-up shop without proper regulation or scrutiny. The integrity of education in Bahrain was in jeopardy, and the authorities recognized that.
Finally today, the Quality Assurance Authority for Education and Training (QAAET) released an evaluation Bahrain’s education system that showed that most post-secondary institutions performed poorly. The review used a four level evaluation, in the descending order of “outstanding”, “good”, “satisfactory”, and “poor”. None of the institutions received the highest score, while only three rated as “good”. The Higher-Education Council, headed by MoE Dr. al-Nuaimi decided to issue a series of warnings to these institutions and suspend several programs that do not satisfy its requirements. I applaud Dr. al-Nuaimi for that, but that is not adequate.
Education is not a business, and these universities behave like for-profit money grabbers. The MoE must recognize that first. Second, suspending a few programs within substandard universities won’t encourage others to outperform them. Maybe if they shut down one or two sloppy unis, those running the show will realize the importance of what is at stake. The education of Bahrain’s youth will ensure our future growth and prosperity. Let us not fill this country with inferior and second-rate degree holders, ladies & gentlemen!
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=254365
If you think that’s bad, imagine how awful it must be for Dr. Majid al-Nuaimi to sort out the post-secondary education mess. Since Bahrain decided to allow the creation of private universities not too long ago, they have mushroomed all across the country. Some in Manama, and some in Saar. Some built actual campuses, while some are on top of Jasmi’s! The situation was bound for disaster, since they all set-up shop without proper regulation or scrutiny. The integrity of education in Bahrain was in jeopardy, and the authorities recognized that.
Finally today, the Quality Assurance Authority for Education and Training (QAAET) released an evaluation Bahrain’s education system that showed that most post-secondary institutions performed poorly. The review used a four level evaluation, in the descending order of “outstanding”, “good”, “satisfactory”, and “poor”. None of the institutions received the highest score, while only three rated as “good”. The Higher-Education Council, headed by MoE Dr. al-Nuaimi decided to issue a series of warnings to these institutions and suspend several programs that do not satisfy its requirements. I applaud Dr. al-Nuaimi for that, but that is not adequate.
Education is not a business, and these universities behave like for-profit money grabbers. The MoE must recognize that first. Second, suspending a few programs within substandard universities won’t encourage others to outperform them. Maybe if they shut down one or two sloppy unis, those running the show will realize the importance of what is at stake. The education of Bahrain’s youth will ensure our future growth and prosperity. Let us not fill this country with inferior and second-rate degree holders, ladies & gentlemen!
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=254365
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)