Doha Debates for freedom of speech Tuesday, 07 December 2010 02:24

DOHA: Any education system that does not promote critical thinking and freedom of speech is of little use. This view was upheld by a majority of participants at Qatar Foundation’s Doha

Debates yesterday.

The motion “this House believes education is worthless without freedom of speech” was carried with a majority of 53 percent votes. Forty seven percent of the audience voted against the motion.

The panelists supporting the motion  maintained that the objective of education was not just to impart knowledge but to help people make their own decisions and challenge the injustice that they see

around them.

The other side argued that education has value even without freedom of speech since it it can provide a better life to individuals and societies. Only an educated society can promote values such as freedom of speech.

Professor Dennis Hayes, founder of the Academics for Academic Freedom and professor of education at University of Derby, who spoke for the motion, opened the debate by saying that the basic role of education was to help people make up their minds and think critically.

“By voting for the motion you will be voting for the fundamental right of human beings to make up their minds,” said Hayes.

Speaking against the motion, Dr Nagla Rizk, professor of Economics at the American University of Cairo argued that education cannot be considered worthless even in the absence of freedom of speech.

“I come from Egypt but I am here because of my education. Many of you may be coming from oppressive societies but your education is not worthless. Education is a catalyst for change. Where are the Egyptian bloggers coming from? Educated women in Egypt speak up against abuses,” said Rizk.

Dr Tariq Ramadan, philosopher and Islamic scholar who joined Hayes to support the motion, rejected  Rizk’s views saying that  education without freedom of speech is not only worthless but it could be even counter productive.

Referring to the situation in the Arab world, Ramadan said, “If we are only spreading  knowledge without promoting creativity and critical thinking, we will be creating parrots who are repeating what is being said. Education should help change the world. It should make us courageous to challenge opinion, the system and the governments,” said Ramadan.

He called for reforming the education system in the Arab world saying that is only producing graduates who are not ready nor capable of changing the systems that they live in.

Watkins, director of the Education for All Global Monitoring Report of the Unesco, who spoke against the motion said the issue in discussion was not the value of freedom of speech.

“The question is whether education is  worthless without freedom of speech. If something is worthless we should discard it,” said Watkins. “Education is the most powerful tool to change the world,” he added, quoting Nelson Mandela.

The Peninsula

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