‘Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum’ Organizes Panel Session on ‘Learning for Innovation’

Special to TAG Educa News Agency 

AMMAN – Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum (TAG-KF) organized a panel session marking the International Day of Education entitled ‘Learning for Innovation’ under the patronage of HE Dr. Tayseer Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Education. 

On behalf of HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Senior Advisor for Education at Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global), HE Dr. Amin Mahmoud, welcomed Dr. Al-Nuaimi and the panel guests, stressing the necessity for providing the appropriate environment for reform and developing a clear vision with specific message and doable goals. 

Dr. Al-Nuaimi stated that innovation is a challenge to the learning environment and the education system. He stressed the importance of measuring the inputs to enable appropriate control of the outputs; that include the curriculum, the experienced teacher, the mechanism to evaluate learning and the quality assurance.  

 “We are embracing a Fourth Learning Revolution that is thematically equivalent to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We have to be aware of this fact and strive towards achieving our goals for the future of our children,” Al-Nuaimi said. 

During the session, Senator Haifaa Al Najjar, noted that the ‘traditional school’ isolated us from the real learning, saying that students need to be enabled to create their own curriculum instead of imposing upon them one that could not  match their creativity. Meanwhile, Al Najjar advocated the importance of establishing the ‘modern school’ that adopts innovation classes, in addition to transforming the concept of school incubators into creative ones. 

Participant Dr. Bashar Hawamdeh, int@j chairman of the Board of Directors, and MenaI Tech Founder and CEO, highlighted the need to change the curriculum, affirming the importance of implementing a real partnership between the public and private sectors. He said that one of the main reasons behind the deterioration of education is the lack of recognition of the importance of Arabic language.  

For his part, Eng. Ismail Hakki, General Director of “Ideas Factory”, one of the Crown Prince Foundation initiatives, called for implementing innovative ideas on the ground, especially at a time where learning for innovation became imperative. Referring to the youth ‘negative thinking patterns’ he said that such patterns have to be changed and redirected towards creativity and innovation.

Ms. Hanan Khader, founder & CEO of ‘Hello World Kids’, the first educational organization specialized in teaching Computer & Mobile Programming for children between the ages of 6 to 12, expressed her belief that creating a generation of innovators should start at early ages on problem solving, analytical thinking and Artificial Intelligence. She indicated that learning programming for students would create a generation whose creativity can’t be restricted. 

Meanwhile, Executive Director of TAG-KF, Mr. Fadi Daoud, addressed the attendees saying that the Seminar was held on the occasion of the International Day of Education  (January 24 every year), which celebrates the role of education for peace and development. 

Mr. Daoud reviewed the UN Goals of Sustainable Developments, particularly the fourth one, Quality Education, referring to Jordan ranking on the Global Innovation Index and World Education Index. He called for the provision of quality, equitable and comprehensive education for all as well as enhancing learning opportunities. 

At the end of the session, honorary shields were presented to the Patron of the event, HE Dr. Tayseer Al-Nuaimi, and the key speakers.