You live and you learn: Saudi Arabia
The Article


Saudi Arabia has a strong learning system, advanced in both mathematics and science subjects. However, half the world views their educational system as backwards. Their history, and political science subjects are very biased and sometimes blatantly untrue. To produce a future nation that is productive and not just tolerant of other religions and cultures but accepting of them, there are quite a few changes that need to be addressed and modified.

The number of universities in Saudi Arabia has increased dramatically within the last couple of years as well as the number of admitted students, and they are starting to adapt more online programs and learning tools for students that do not have the opportunity to physically attend schools. According to Afifa Jabeen Quraishi, a writer for Arab News, there are already two online universities that are fully up and running nation-wide. The students and instructors, however, are not quite content with them. Ms. Afifa addresses the instructors concerns that the students feel like they are not getting enough personal attention through online learning programs as opposed to in classroom.

“ What is not understood is that technology has advanced to such a degree that if conducted properly, the students get even more individual attention by the instructor through audio visual channels now available on the market. Studies have shown that student performance and retention tend to exceed face-to-face meetings held in brick and mortar facilities.”

Similar to the Native American heritage, Saudi Arabia is built on oral communication rather than written communication, and they are very skeptical about e-learning programs. There needs to be an actual tutorial on how to use these online programs in order to spark the interests of future applicants and allow them to see the benefits of it. Additionally, they need a student board or council in order to advocate the students’ needs and concerns. There are positive aspects of the e-learning programs, the article acknowledges the review of one student that had stated:

“ ‘I enrolled because the availability of study material is such that the students can sit and study the lessons at any time appropriate for them. Navigation of the online student portal is easy and intuitive. Once you login on the website, you get access to all relevant videos and reading material as well as links to the live sessions and online forums,’ said Huda B., 23, a working woman in Jeddah. She said she particularly finds live sessions useful for learning Qur’anic Tajweed where the teacher, often separated by miles and time zones, listens to her recitation in the virtual classroom and corrects it.”

Although this article dominantly discusses full on e-learning programs there are certain online aspects that could be added to regular universities.

“ ‘Some of the issues that we face include: technology phobia, user training, technology support, right technology selection, and technology integration,’ said Hamzeh M.I. Al-Rjoub, ICT and Educational Technology senior consultant at King Saud University, Riyadh. “

Blackboard and other online tools to help students access documents and grades from their teachers have recently been implemented in one university in Saudi Arabia, however they are far behind to having the same utensils that students in America take for granted. In order for all the students to adapt to that kind of luxury, universities across Saudi Arabia needs to apply it or similar programs. To register for classes, make appointments with teachers, view available classes, and receive grades or transcripts; students in the universities need to fill out a form and be at that university in the flesh. Although it seems trivial to address issues that seem small, they are actually very time consuming. Even if they put these systems into play, students and teachers need to have tutorials on how to utilize them, because it is vital to create a productive and useful system. 

These e-learning advancements have so much potential with allowing students to obtain an “American degree”, which have in the past seemed far-fetched for most of them. This American degree will allow them to pursue opportunities or practice their skills worldwide. However, in order for it all to be successful the students and teachers need to become more tech savvy. Being able to implant a thriving system might help the younger generation not only earn their degree, but also be able to use online tools for their own benefit. It will allow them to become more aware of the world around them; accessing them to articles and blogs with different political views and standpoints, giving them the opportunity to develop their own opinions about taboo subjects in their country and help them form their own opinions about their stances on subjects that were once unthinkable. Although Saudi Arabia seems to be moving backwards to most, they are taking small steps forward and online programs is a jump in the right direction.