DOHA: Arab region must ensure an active involvement of communities, parents and families in the day-to-day functioning of their respective local schools. The governments must stop isolating schools from these segments, said a social scientist and prominent leader of an active social entrepreneurship group in the region.

Lack of students’ involvement in the community and civil societies would adversely affect their performance in the schools and colleges; and as responsible citizens, said Dr Iman Bibars, Vice-President, Ashoka, and Regional Director, Ashoka Arab World.

Talking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the second day of World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) she said: “Schools in the Arab region are generally operating in a closed environment. They must open up it to the communities and parents, bringing the children more closer to the society. The fact that over 40 percent of the population in the Arab region is youth adds significance to their active involvement in the civil societies. Community involvement in the schools is the best way to ensure the involvement of youth in the social sphere.”

A large number of Arab youth are being grown up in restrictive home environment, blocking their critical thinking. In many cases Arab parents are also discouraging their children from risk-taking initiatives. Culturally-induced misconceptions are also posing major detriments of Arab parents’ involvement in their ward’s school activities.

“Both parents and schools must think out of box and equip the young generation to meet the challenges of the emerging labour markets,” Bibars said.

Bibars disagreed to the view that many of the new-generation Arab schools are aping the western educational system. “Schools must be liberal and it must have its structural liberty,” she said. We must also learn how to strike a balance between the Western and traditional content, she added.THE PENINSULA