Education will turn the tide against extremism: Dr. Ahmad Belhoul

In an opinion piece entitled, "Education will turn the tide against extremism," published today in The National newspaper, Dr. Ahmad Belhoul, Minister of State for Higher Education, wrote about the challenges facing the region, including rising unemployment and a decline in quality education, which he says, "Were the impetus for the youth uprisings that brought many to the streets of Arab capitals."

"When a group of Arab intellectuals produced the first of a series of human development reports at the United Nations on the region in 2002, the findings were jolting. It was a watershed moment that cast a dim light on shortcomings of the region and the socio-economic challenges ahead," Dr. Belhoul wrote.

"Those challenges included: the need for job creation to curb rising unemployment, battling gender inequality, addressing a knowledge deficit and the decline in the quality of education, all of which are a consequence of a lack of innovation and knowledge production systems that instill essential values and institutional frameworks that support a knowledge society, which the UN scholars called for."

"These salient issues were the impetus for the youth uprisings that brought many to the streets of Arab capitals and changed the course of the region nearly six years ago. A shortage of opportunities, poor governance, poverty and ignorance incubated the cancer of radicalism that we see today. The digital age and growing radicalisation in and outside the Arab world further augment the need to address these imperatives by all governments," he added.

The Minister said that actions that produce tangible, meaningful results which provide a counter-narrative to extremist ideologies, help alleviate poverty, curtail ignorance and create opportunities for future generations of the region, require that we invest in human development in tandem with our economic aspirations.

In 2013, the UN found the Arab world had the lowest employment-to-population ratio of 52.6 percent compared to the world average of 65.8 percent. "Over the next two decades, the World Bank projects our region needs to create 100 million jobs for young people. This essentially requires a strategic, multipronged shift in policies, to create an enabling environment at the political and educational level that engages citizens, cultivates talent and nurtures ambitions.

"The UAE’s leadership has always had the foresight to plan ahead. Since its founding, the country has looked to education, economic empowerment, and a framework of political inclusion as pillars that underpin the fabric of our nation. The culture of consultation from the traditional majlis setting that has since evolved into the formalised Federal National Council, the newly created role of Minister of State for Happiness, the Youth Circle initiative, all illustrate a commitment to pluralism," he said.

Dr. Belhoul went on to say, "In parallel, the UAE continues to invest in improving and transforming the education landscape. Allocating about 20 per cent of next year’s budget, or AED10.2 billion, to education is a clear illustration of our commitment to advancing learning and planning for the post-oil era.

"The Ministry of Education continuously looks to enhancing curricula that equip and prepare students for the job market while helping them operate in a diverse and complex world. Our approach is holistic and addresses the learning process from a cognitive age in the classroom to graduate levels at universities."

In conclusion, Dr. Belhoul said that, "Closing the knowledge gap, and battling the vicious cycle of radicalism in our region and beyond require promoting critical thinking, analytical skills, media literacy, an inclusive civic mind that embraces tolerance, dialogue, respect, cultural diversity and the spirit of collaboration which allow for the sharing of ideas and enable innovation."

"One way of building a resilient generation is by reviewing and adapting curricula as needed. Another is by immersing students in different cultures and sending our brightest abroad. The UAE presently supports 4,000 students in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Sweden, China, Finland, South Korea and Japan," he said.