A session on education suggests teaching skills rather than learning

At the Knowledge Summit, Education as a Accelerator for Sustainable Solutions tackled the importance of inclusive quality education, the role of educational institutions in meeting global challenges, and the integration of sustainability principles into educational and training curricula.

"The upgrading of the education system is not just about spending more money," said Hassan al-Damluji, head of the Middle East Relations Department at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. "The principal facing education is that it is managed to meet the immediate needs of students, without regard to their future needs."

He suggested launching a system of tests at the international and regional levels to identify the levels of education in all countries, and work to improve it in countries with limited indicators.

He pointed out the importance of focusing on teaching students skills rather than teaching them knowledge. "Developing skills will enhance their knowledge."

Dima Najm, managing director of Education for Employment in the UAE, said: "The output of university education plays a pivotal role in increasing unemployment among new graduates because they lack the skills necessary to succeed in the labor market." “Providing quality skills-based education in the Middle East is a challenge associated with the challenge of reducing unemployment there. The education system in most countries of the region, in terms of knowledge and skills that are promoted in the students, belongs to the industrial age, not to this stage. Educational institutions should collaborate and intensify efforts to develop employment skills during the study. ”

Speaking about the role of curricula in providing sustainable solutions globally, Ralf Taperer, president of BBD, said: “There is no magic solution that addresses education problems worldwide. At the curriculum level, for example, educators should recognize the importance of looking to the future rather than going back to the past when new curricula are launched. Each country should be unique in explaining its uniqueness and cultural identity through its educational curricula, as well as promoting the principles of global citizenship. ”