The final close of the Hammamet Conference
2013 brings with it a host of ideas, summaries and reflections. Today was a
more emotional day for me personally, as I got to build deeper and more human
connections with people; more personal stories were shared, and more confidence
was mustered to contribute whatever 2 cents I have picked up in my life thus
far.
Today was a solutions oriented day,
complementing yesterday’s joyfully pessimistic ‘issues oriented’ day. The
morning started with a few more sessions on educational reform. In this sector,
I found there to be the largest amount of overlap with issues in the UK. Each
country will have specific issues, and solutions that they need to just get on
par with equivalent global systems, yet Education as a whole needs reform in my
humble opinion
Conclusions from the workshop were as follows: -
1)
Involvement of students in
entrepreneurship
2)
Narrowing the gap between
graduates and the job market, through better transferrable skills
a.
Students don’t see the link
between what they learn, and what they need after university
3)
Introducing more creativity and
innovation
4)
Bringing professionals to speak
about important issues like taxes, governments, policies etc. to get a more
holistic understanding of the world
5)
Better training for teachers,
better development for teachers.
6)
Educational reform means we
should think about 21st century learning, instead of copying 20th
century models.
a.
Technology advances so fast
that what students learn might become obsolete by the time they enter uni…their
teachers are 15-20 years behind the students. How is education supposed to keep
up? TEACHER DEVELOPMENT
7)
Apprenticeships and more
vocational programs
8)
National curriculum AND local
flexibility to change the curriculum
a.
National curriculum should be strongly
followed in the early years, and then slowly move towards flexibility in the
later years of education
The session was fascinating, but much of it
was too general to be concrete, yet too specific to be applied universally.
Just to recap, the 6 participating countries in this conference are Algeria,
Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and the UK. My personal solutions, many of which
I have believed for some time now, and some of which came from today’s
discussion are: -
1) TEACHERS
a. Quality of teachers
i. Make the standard sky
high, subsidise their salaries, give them massive incentives TO teach,
encourage schemes where professionals can spend a year or so teaching and then
go back to their professional jobs, encourage schemes where teachers can spend
a year or so in the private sector and teach from experience with a better
knowledge of what skills students really need
b. Accountability
i. Less focus on exam
results. This causes teachers to become results focuses, rather than
student-welfare focused or student-benefit focused. Compare with Finlands model
which is less exam oriented, more personally catered towards individual needs
yet one of the most successful education models
2) SYSTEMS OF LEARNING
a. What is the purpose of a
classroom? Is it JUST to absorb information, or is it to develop knowledge,
life skills, social skills etc.?
i. MOOCs and KHAN academy
model of learning ONLINE, at home, on videos which can be replayed so each
student can take their own time
ii. Classrooms should have
more time for discussion, analysis, projects, INTERACTION with the teachers.
Why solely be taught economic models that are failing IN THE MIDST of a great
recession? (my solution for increasing creativity and innovation)
3) EXTRA CIRRICULARS
a. Develop a well-rounded
individual. Education is about more than the classroom
i. Encourage integration with
other students/wider society
ii. Competitions, sports,
science fairs, spelling bees, plays, music, clubs, societies, youth
parliaments, MUN, anything and everything
4) ENCOURAGE SOCIAL SCIENCES
a. Do this by any means
necessary. If we want an analytical, reflective society, we need people to get
out of Engineer, Lawyer, Doctor ONLY mode
Phew! I’m sure everyone had a blast reading
that summary. This was the session I attended fully, and although we had a
plenary review of the conclusions from other workshops, this is the only one I
will share. Other topics included Active Citizenship, Diversity and Dialogue,
and Trust and Accountability.
The topic of Art and Culture was also
explored, with some fascinating presentations about its importance. The
universality of Art has the power to break social barriers, and lead the way
forward for an integrated youth. It is also a reflection of a society that
wants healthy entertainment, and Egypt was used as a successful model of promoting
Art and Culture even in troubled political times.
A review session, and a few closing remarks
brought the conference to an emotional end. I can genuinely say I have learnt
so much. Most participants outshone me in every discipline imaginable, and it
was truly humbling to be amongst such a gathering. I did have the initial
feeling that my uneducated, inexperienced contributions would be worthless;
however, as the day progressed, I realized that there was an overemphasis on
jargon and listing political institutions and policy hierarchies. As a young,
fresh graduate, I did see things slightly differently, and when I did pluck up
the courage to contribute, it was met with very warm approval.
The last Hammamet report can be read at the
bottom of this document. The main outcome of this conference needs to be
tangible, on the ground actions. Only time will tell what myself, or any of the
other participants do on a practical level. One great initiative announced by
the British Council was a scholarship award for a summer course, and then
ultimately a Masters program at Oxford University for young students from the
North African countries. What I will focus on, is what I can actually take away
from this 4 day rollercoaster
1)
Inspiration – inspiration has
never been a problem for me, but the more you expose yourself to active youth,
and accomplished individuals, the more it places that hope in your heart, and
inspiration to truly contribute and make change
2)
Read – I have always had an
interest in why the world is as it is, and I have realized that Economics is
really at the heart of it all. So is Politics. So is History. So is…basically,
in my quest to, one day, learn everything about everything, the only choice I
have is to read, and then read some more
3)
Confidence – I have found
myself the youngest, least experienced person in many accomplished groups. This
is a great blessing, but I have realized that I am there for a reason. I will
bring a perspective that will be different, and if the perspective is not good,
then I will learn from making a fool of myself…but I will learn, and that is
what is most important
4)
Friends – I met some wonderful
people, and I have been promised authentic couscous by atleast 2 Moroccans thus
far. May these friendships last, and may they lead to great collaboration in
the future. (amen)
5)
Perspective – at many points in
this conference, my mind was opened, my perspective changed, my paradigms
shifted, and my thinking expanded. This was exciting in itself, because there
is no feeling like being intellectually stimulated by challenging your own
notions
A great experience, and now back to the
hustle and bustle of London life. Hammamet 2014, if God so wills, it would be
an absolute privilege to touch base once more. Until then, goodbye and
goodluck. Godspeed
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