The Decimation of Borders Amidst Affliction: How Covid-19 Has Changed the Perception of Online Learning in Saudi Arabia
Students in Classroom/Edutopia.comBy: Holly Johnson/Arab America Contributing Writer
Saudi Arabia, a country as famous for its oil reserves as it is for its diligent censorship, has had a tumultuous relationship with internet usage since its widespread inception in 1994. Initially accepted in the country for government, military, healthcare, and research use only, Saudi Arabia allowed the general public access to the internet in 1999, however, it did so with the understanding that content and users would be subject to censorship. Despite the boom of technology throughout ensuing decades, research shows that while the number of internet users in Saudi Arabia is drastically increasing, it is predominately for entertainment purposes, with social media apps such as Instagram and Snapchat recording the highest number of users.
Popular Social Media AppsWho is using the internet?
Although the increase in internet users is highest amongst the younger Saudi generation (between the ages of 15 and 29), new research conducted by The Future Institute of Higher Learning shows that the internet is not being as widely used for academic purposes as might be assumed. According to a 2019 report, only 22% of high school and college students at institutions in Saudi Arabia claimed to use technology as part of their academic curriculum, as teachers continued the traditional usage of textbooks as a means of gaining knowledge. However, the attitude towards internet usage for scholastic purposes in Saudi Arabia has dramatically changed in the face of COVID-19.
Officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, the novel strand of coronavirus has permeated Earth’s surface, infecting millions, and killing hundreds of thousands worldwide. As countries grappled with the ravaging effects of the disease, governments around the globe scrambled to implement safety measures, while ensuring the continuity of essential institutions, of which academia is considered. In the Middle East, governments reacted with seemingly lightning-fast speed, immediately drafting plans to continue primary and post-secondary education through online learning. Despite their historically negative opinion of utilizing the internet, Saudi Arabia’s plan included e-learning.
In spite of continued criticism and societal pushbacks against online learning, instructors and students alike have adapted well to the change, prompting Saudi leaders to pursue innovation in the quest for satisfying online platforms. Initially, leery of finding efficient means to connect with students via a computer screen, the flexibility of classroom structures has appealed to many students, who are finding it easier to learn than ever before.
Of course, learning remotely does come with its own unique challenges. Although teachers have attempted to keep inclusivity in their daily structure, students are struggling at times with internet connectivity issues. Without the traditional face-to-face interaction that physical meetings in the classroom afford, students have reported feeling overwhelmed with their coursework in a time that is emotionally stressful, while also struggling to understand the material as it is being presented via a keyboard.
Student using Laptop/Dreamstime.comHow is quality ensured?
In an effort to curb technological issues and ensure that students have access to quality virtual classrooms and online learning platforms, the Saudi Research and Innovation Network (Maeen) has teamed up with the Integrated Telecom Company to support their e-learning ventures. According to Arab News, “Their mission is to ‘increase the data quota between some of the Kingdom’s universities and the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology free of charge,'”
According to Saudi’s Ministry of Education, the results of e-learning have been principally positive, so much so that they are looking at extending remote learning into the 2020-2021 school year. Although officials have tweaked traditional end-of-year learning outcomes, including advancing all kindergarten to high school-aged students to the next grade in lieu of second-semester grades and exams, over 1.4 million college students across the country have successfully taken exams administered on the internet.
In a press release dated May 17, Saudi education minister Dr. Hamad Mohammed Al Sheikh proclaimed that the effective widespread use of technology has prompted officials to analyze the positive effects that it might have on curbing dropout rates throughout the Kingdom, due to the flexibility that remote learning offers. Throughout July, the ministry will be conducting teacher competency tests to determine how to train teachers in providing invigorating content come September.
Positives in a time of negativity…
As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc amongst societies, it has brought with it fear of the unknown and a deeply rooted appreciation for the relative normalcy of days gone by. As Saudi Arabia slowly eases its restrictions and attempts to reclaim a semblance of its pre-quarantine routine, officials continue to encourage social distancing.
As is common with international occurrences, despite the atrocities that COVID-19 has brought, it has united a previously divided world and changed historically held opinions on everything from technology to infrastructure. In the case of Saudi Arabia, a pandemic has altered their opinion on technology, showing that change can occur from the most surprising of hosts.
Sources
https://www.arabnews.com/node/1645091/middle-east
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