Solution for education in Arab world

Like oxygen is vital for living, education is vital for understanding the world around us. No nation on this earth, no community, religion or ethnicity in this world, no government of any state can deny the significance that education holds for human beings. Every specie in the world regardless of their size possesses a brain but the reason human are superior to them is because they have been given the ability to use this brain to think, imagine, create and understand. Education is the key that highlights these abilities and enables our minds to greater things in life. The importance for education has been discretely defined in Islam as well. It attaches great importance to acquiring knowledge and encourages individuals to go out of the way to do so. Throughout the world education is considered to be the strongest pillar that every successful nation stands strong upon.

A nation or a country is not considered to be flourishing until and unless they have a high literacy rate. Many individuals have dedicated their lives to the cause of providing better opportunities of knowledge and learning for everyone who seeks it. Education holds the power to civilize nations and to set them on a path to success. Resources can be drained and exhausted, battles can be lost and won, alliances can be made and broken but a nation that stand on the grounds of educated individuals who flourish in every field and who hold knowledge about the important things in the world can never be brought down because such a nation will always have the ability to fall down and stand right back up. This importance has been realized mainly by the west and they have inculcated this principle in their roots. This can be considered one of the reasons of their success in almost every field of life.  Some countries have been blessed with individuals or organizations that have tirelessly worked towards establishing top class colleges and universities that offer the world’s best education system and a favorable environment for learning.  However there are some countries who have lacked behind in this area. Due to various reasons some developing or even some developed countries fall short when it comes to possessing the best educational institutions.

This has been a persistent problem in the Arab world. Most of the Arab countries are economically strong and developed but somehow their system has never been of the sort that includes education as a priority. They have other strong suits which they effortlessly flourish in but then there are some weak points, in their case it is education, for which they do not hold strong grounds. It is not that the people in power and with positions have not been involved in making this situation better, efforts have been made to restore the historical legacy. The Arab people have made numerous efforts to change this situation and bring positive reforms in the education sector but no matter how hard they try it is bound to take some time before drastic differences can be seen.

What exactly is the problem with the Arab education system?

Before discussing the solutions it is important to have an insight about the actual problem. Let’s take a moment to think whenever we think about the Arab nations what exactly comes to our minds? Extensive oil reserves, lavish palaces and cars, and extravagant lifestyles. Renowned universities and strong education systems are never discussed in the Arab world’s perspective. Just a quick walk down the memory lane reminds us that there was a time when the Arab world was way ahead of the west in every walk of life. They had great thinkers, scholars, chemists, mathematicians and even poets. They made numerous contribution in almost all sorts of subjects and fields. So how did the circumstances change? First of all it is important to be sure of the fact that there are variations among Arab states. Some states do have a better system than the other for example Jordan can be considered one with an upper hand over other Arab countries but then again even inside Jordan only a few exceptions can be seen. Speaking of the entire system, shortcomings are quite evident. The problem lies in the larger picture. One or two exceptions do not change the fact that majority still suffers.

Some account all these problems to be because of the lack of liberal values and democracy. It is believed that the education ministries have a highly centralized role which stops them from performing well. They propose that a liberal form of government with strong principles of transparency can make the situation better. Besides this another core issue lies with the teaching system itself. It is believed that the Arab education system does not settle well with modern teaching techniques. Educationists believe that their system is still mainly dominated by teacher centric policies which means that the teachers dominate everything that happens in the classroom or even in the entire school system. This undermines the thought process of the child and deprives them of the ability to think with an open. Due to this the entire system becomes quite rhetoric and nothing new ever comes off of it. Empowering a child to think out of the box, to imagine, to create and more importantly, to question is what builds societies. However a teacher dominated system creates submissive individuals with less ability to think and innovate. The problem lies in the vicious circle. The circle is simple, lack of good education system will not provide the best education, lack of proper and advanced education will not create outstanding students with free thinking and innovative ideas, due to this the system will always fall short of having progressive and proficient teachers, lack of such teachers will fuel the system to continue as it is and thus the students will never be able to learn new things. The key lies in breaking this vicious circle and breaking free.

What can be the solution for the Arab educational issues?

The first step towards solving a problem is identifying it and realizing it to be an actual hindrance in the road to success because until and unless a shortcoming is not considered a problem efforts can never be made to resolve it. The Arab states have left no stone unturned in trying to change the quantitative issues regarding the educational problems. The budgets allocated to this sector are quite generous which means infrastructural development is without any doubt remarkable. New school buildings are provided which are state of the art with all sorts of facilities that one can possibly ask for. Efforts have also been made to adopt western traits as well like introducing computer based education even in classrooms. Special attention has been paid to improvements in the field of mathematics and science. These subjects are considered to be the most important for the development of any nation hence they have been focused on more as compared to other subjects. But this is still the tip of the iceberg. The actual problem is still not being completely addressed. Substantial success will be achieved when the decades old system is changed. The Arab education system needs to see qualitative changes rather than quantitative changes. The solution to this problem is a system that produces informed citizens who are aware of the circumstances that surround them. This can be done through bringing change in the environment of classrooms. When Arab students start to question from an early age that is when their real success story will start. Teachers need to be capable enough to provide a free atmosphere to the students where they are made comfortable and given the surety that there is nothing wrong with thinking and questioning and that their thoughts are valued. A classroom should not be a place where the teacher gives a lecture and leave and the students jolt all these words that they don’t even understand. Instead it should be a place of open discussion and debate and every individual opinion should be valued. This creates a sense of confidence amongst the students and based on this confidence they can go ahead to bring about some serious substantial changes in the entire system. This is the key to breaking that vicious cycle. When these informed and aware students enter into practical life that is when they will start to bring changes, they will obviously have a different thought process which would enable them to think differently. This change in pattern will eventually lead up to the entire education system being changed. Aware students will go on to make open minded teachers which one then contribute to generations and generations of more informed and socially aware individuals. Considering the atrocities that the Arab world faces, such a change can even prove to be beneficial for the international image and importance of the region as well. Education can make a considerable change for all the Arab countries alike.

All you need to know about the CARLAC participation in Ibn Battuta festival

The participation of CARLAC in Ibn Battuta festival has created a whole new sense of joy and has made it even more interesting. As the event is known for its rich cultural and traditional shows along with mesmerizing versatility for both local and international people, it is of no surprise that many major organizations will be a part of it. Such news always adds up to the popularity of the event. So, to address all the buzz surrounding CARLAC participation in Ibn Battuta festival here is all you need to know about it.

What is CARLAC?

Arab World is known for its colorful culture and rich heritage. A lot of similarities can be seen in this one and the Latin America culture. There are different people who were from the Arab dynasty but are now blended with the Latin Americans and possess mutual interests. To address the economic and cultural relationships between these two, the Council for Arab Relations with Latin America and the Caribbean was designed.

What does CARLAC do?

The council aims to strengthen the relationship between Arabs and Latin Americans. The association is a non-profit one, and its task is to analyze the current situation and affairs, identify the most efficient and prolific means of establishing an appropriate network for addressing the issues and support mutual interest. The support and addressing apply to trade, social development, current affairs, business and investment, education, etc.

The council was introduced to people in 2014. It has different departments that are dealing with various affairs. These include Food, Security, and energy. The fact that they also work on investment promotion, innovation and technology, education and culture, and travel and tourism, makes them a perfect fit to join the Ibn Battuta festival. The travel and tourism manage events and international traveling. It serves to businesses and industries. The Chief Financial Officer is Mohamed Dekkak who is also the founding member of CARLAC.

Why are they participating in the festival?

There are a lot of people asking a question that what is the purpose of CARLAC participation in Ibn Battuta festival. The sources suggest that Mohamed Dekkak is interested in paying tribute to Ibn Battuta Medieval Moroccan traveler. It is the second edition of this international event and one of the best possible ways by which you can revive the traditions of the time. Also, the council plans to secure the tourism sector and preserve the culture and tradition of traveling by paying tribute to such icons in the world of travelers.

The Ibn Battuta Festival

The Moroccan Association is responsible for organizing the Ibn Battuta Festival in order to remember the celebrity and promote the culture and heritage of the country. November is the month to which this event is dedicated in 2017. The mission of the organizers is to inspire the travelers and ask them to explore the globe on their own. The festival reminds the world of how, one of the greatest travelers of all time, spent his life and how modern day travelers can get inspiration from it. Also, it revives the historical and traditional practices of the country.

The key events in festival

As any festival celebration comes with different events and shows within it, there are a number of things that you will see going on in this one too. These include the following.

Art Exhibition

For the travelers, it is said that they are on the hunt of finding something new and unique, something that is different. It is among the primary reason why the art exhibition is held as it brings in the colorful and versatile street art which reflects the journey of a traveler. If you are a travel geek, do not miss a chance to attend this part of the festival. It will show you the exact picture of the history of Ibn Battuta beautifully crafted by skillful artists which are sure to take you back to medieval times.

Carnival of Ibn Battuta

There are several events throughout the world that aims at unifying people from different regions and encourages them to participate in it and share the moments of joy together. This one is no exception, and the carnival of Ibn Battuta allows you to cherish the time along with each other while this part expresses the tradition together with dance, music, stunning costumes and some power packed performances.

Travel movies

There is a part of the festival where you can go and watch different travel movies. Most of them are directed towards the history of Ibn Battuta. The written stuff, at times, may not appear to be as appealing as the shown picture. Thus, for some people, it is exciting and amusing. Once you go through these movies, you will have much more knowledge about the prolific traveler and his journey.

Music shows

Who does not enjoy a good music? Everyone surely loves to listen to it, and if the performance is a reflection of past packed with the modern performers, it will undoubtedly gather more interest. The music is a vital part of this festival as singers from all over the globe are called to entertain individuals that are participating in the event.

Theatrical Plays and Travel Exhibitions

Other vital elements in the Ibn Battuta festival include the dramatic plays and travel exhibitions. These bring more joy to the event. The students from various institutes spend months preparing the plays before finally presenting it in front of an enormous audience. Usually, these too reflect the history and journey of the great traveler.

A glimpse of the event

If you are unaware of the inside of the event, you may wish to know how it will proceed. If you are a traveler and want to join the event, here is how it will be held.

The festival will start on Thursday, 9th of November. It begins with the opening ceremony that contains speech from the Honorary President and the Chief Financial Officer and founder of CARLAC, Mohamed Dekkak. Then, the President Aziz Benami will share a few words with the audience about the festival, Ibn Battuta, and may come up with a few more things. Later, the presentation will be shown to the people attending the ceremony which guides them about the Moroccan Association of Ibn Battuta. Once you go through the presentation, you are in to watch a few more slides that provide you the insight about the event and how and when different programs will take place. Afterwards, you get to hear the words of the countries that are present in the ceremony. Before closing, you get to see the awards distribution and the Official opening of the IFIB.

As you are through with the first day, the second day will come up with some serious entertainment. On day 2 of the festival, Friday, November 10, you will have different conferences. Most of them are dedicated to travelers, their journeys, spreading harmony and peace, and such other topics. Then, there are theaters where you will be able to watch plays and movies associated with the event. Also, you will be shown videos that are about the traveler Ibn Battuta.

Lastly, the 3rd day, Saturday, November 11th, is dedicated to the carnival. There, the students from international and local universities and colleges come to participate. They will share some words with the people and may also present the plays that they have prepared. The exciting part is that it is not only the local universities that come up equipped with something for the event. Many international institutes encourage their students to be a part of the festival and come up with something great that is both entertaining and informative for the audience.

Who was Ibn Battuta?

Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn Battuta, commonly known as Ibn Battuta, is famous for his work as a traveler. He was born in 1304 in Tangier, Morocco. At the early age, he showed great signs of wisdom. According to the communities and travel gurus, Ibn Battuta is arguably the most significant traveler to step on this planet. He lived in an era where it was hard to travel, but he went on to go for the Pilgrimage to Mecca to complete his Islamic duties and spent the rest of his life wandering around.

In his travel time, which expands up to 30 years, he set off to North Africa, Egypt, and Swahili coast. Also, he went towards the Arabian Peninsula through the famous traveling route crossing the Palestine and Greater Syria. Moving a step ahead, he reached the Anatolia. From there, he continued his journey and went to Afghanistan through Persia. He didn’t stop his trip as he reached India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. From there, before zigzagging back to his homeland of Morocco, he went to visit China. Once he was back, he again set for a voyage to crisscross the Sahara desert.

At this point, you may think of a few other legends in travel world and say, ‘they all traveled far more than Ibn Battuta. So, why is he regarded as the greatest of all time?’ Well, the argument is right, but the fact that he established science and technique behind the art of travel writing made him stand out. As he proceeded his journey, he wrote the observations, took the notes, and prepared the insights and lessons regarding his travel. All the notes and observations were compiled into a book named as Al-Rihla or ‘The Travelers’ on the request of Sultan of Morocco. He handed the responsibility to a young scribe who spent months with Ibn Battuta before coming up with the final copy of the compilation.

Was Ibn Battuta only a traveler?

We all know that the adventures and travel of Ibn Battuta were enough to record him as the legend in the world of travel. But only a few people know that what he did once he reached back Morocco.

On the request of Sultan, Ibn Battuta completed the travelogue and spent around a year in dictating the story to writer appointed by Sultan, Ibn Juzayy. The travelogue, Al-Rihla, also known as A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling, was the result. It was not too popular at the time it was written, but in the modern era, the book is a standout.

After the completion of the book, we do not see Ibn Battuta in historical books and records. But due to his wisdom and knowledge, he is said to have served as a judge in Morocco. Historians believe that he died around 1368. Apart from that, there is nothing much to write about him. We can say that after spending a considerable time of his life on the road, he was set to stay quiet and remain silent for the rest of his life.

Final Note

In short, we can conclude that CARLAC is an association that encourages peace and harmony among the people of different descent and promotes bonding of people from different cultures. It also helps in preserving the rich traditions and customs and protect them from getting extinct. Ibn Battuta is also a festival that targets the life of the great traveler after which the event is named. Thus, there is no uncertainty about the fact that the festival will come with historical chunks and traditional shows. Also, CARLAC participation in Ibn Battuta festival has a lot to do with the team paying tribute to the legend.

In contrast to CARLAC participation in Ibn Battuta festival, the Chief Financial Officer, Mohamed Dekkak, has been granted the seat as Honorary President of the festival. According to the authorities, he is set to deliver the first speech at the opening ceremony of Ibn Battuta festival second edition which will take place on Thursday, 9th November, 2017. If you want to take part in it, the tickets are available to you online. With the aim of spreading peace, harmony, and wisdom, the festival is set to bring you both entertainment and knowledge.