RIYADH: Saudi Education Minister Hamad Al-Sheikh has said that advanced technologies provide effective, equitable and comprehensive access to open electronic resources and platforms for learners with different backgrounds, interests and needs at any time and from anywhere in the world.
Al-Sheikh recently took part in a discussion titled “Effective Educational Ecosystems: Solutions for Open Digital Contents” at the Transforming Education Summit, part of the first week of the 77th UN General Assembly meeting in New York City.
The session was held during the “solutions day,” the second day of the high-level event that covers approaches to improving education around the world. Experts discussed ways to transform education through teacher-led grassroots efforts.
HIGHLIGHT
Saudi education minister Hamad al-sheikh recently took part in a discussion titled ‘effective educational ecosystems: solutions for open digital contents’ at the transforming education summit, part of the first week of the 77th un General assembly meeting in new York.
The Saudi minister affirmed the importance of open electronic resources and platforms in supporting and building students’ capabilities, enhancing teachers’ skills and facilitating access to high-quality educational resources.
He highlighted the Kingdom’s distinguished experience in the field of digital transformation since 2005 as well as its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to develop educational platforms and invest in digital solutions.
He pointed to the role of the Kingdom’s educational platforms, “My School (Madrasati),” “My Kindergarten (Rawdati)” and “Ein Educational Channels,” which received global attention and provided an inspiring model for educational systems around the world in providing equitable, effective access to all learners.
Al-Sheikh added that the Kingdom’s success in the field of open digital resources and platforms emanated from early investment in digital infrastructure and digital education in Saudi Arabia.
He said that the Kingdom is one of the few countries around the world that has an institution dedicated to e-learning policies and defining standards for all electronic and digital educational content, the National e-Learning Center, affirming the importance of the cycle of open electronic resources and platforms in developing education and increasing the durability of educational systems in times of crisis.
He stressed that low costs, ease of reuse, compatibility with local contexts and republication reflect the importance of open electronic resources and platforms. As an example, Al-Sheikh said that students in the Kingdom, through online platforms and resources, can learn about the American Museum of Natural History in New York City while they are in their classrooms in Riyadh. Meanwhile, students in the US and from around the world can virtually tour the Kingdom’s NEOM smart city.
