Cairo

Source: Al-Wafd newspaper

Dr. Ali Mohamed Al-Khouri

Digital education in the Arab world is a key driver for achieving a qualitative leap in the education system and opening new horizons for sustainable development. Sustainability of development transformations requires creating nurturing environments; as much as digital education offers enormous potential, challenges related to digital infrastructure, community culture, and the quality of Arabic educational content still represent obstacles that must be addressed deeply and decisively. Hence the need to reconsider the strategic frameworks that frame the process of digital educational transformation as part of national development strategies and agendas for building knowledge societies based on justice in access to education.

The current reality indicates a significant digital divide in a number of Arab countries, which means that the shift towards digital education is still out of reach for large segments of students, especially in rural and remote areas. Studies indicate that about 40% of the population in some Arab countries suffer from a lack of internet availability or poor speed, which limits their opportunities to benefit from digital education services. To overcome this challenge, governments need to launch national investment initiatives to develop the communications infrastructure, with a focus on providing high-speed internet at reasonable prices that ensure fair access and equal educational opportunities. This step can meet the requirements of digital education, and also contribute to improving the general quality of life and upgrading the national digital economy system in the long term.

On the other hand, the lack of Arabic educational content is a difficult number in the digital education equation. While the world is witnessing a significant increase in available digital educational resources, Arabic content is still modest in terms of quantity and quality, as the percentage of Arabic digital content does not exceed 3% of global content, which indicates a weakness in meeting the needs of Arabic-speaking learners. To achieve real change, public and private sector institutions must invest in producing educational content that is compatible with the local culture and covers the required specializations in an attractive manner that keeps pace with technological developments. This investment in producing Arabic content cannot be considered a mere moral duty, but rather a strategic step to achieve a comprehensive transformation in the Arab education system and make digital education an attractive and integrated option.

Supporting the community culture of the shift towards digital education is also a vital element to ensure that society accepts this new style of education. Many Arab societies still cling to traditional education models and consider digital education unfamiliar or less reliable. In a recent study, about 60% of families in some Arab countries reported that they prefer traditional education over digital, which reveals a cultural challenge that requires a change in societal attitudes. Addressing this barrier through broad awareness campaigns can highlight the benefits of digital education in developing skills, and open a new horizon for education that allows for greater flexibility and suitability to changing educational needs. Collective commitment from educational institutions, the media sector, and government agencies is a strategic requirement to ensure a unified message is conveyed that highlights the importance of this shift.

For digital education to achieve its full potential, it is important to provide specialized training programs for educational staff. Experts point out that the success of this type of education depends largely on the extent to which teachers and students are qualified to use technology efficiently and flexibly. Teachers who receive adequate training gain a greater ability to stimulate digital interaction and achieve the desired educational outcomes. Therefore, building the capacity of teachers should be part of government policies, to encourage training programs, workshops, and ongoing courses on the development of digital education methods. Public policies should also address the provision of scholarships and financial support for needy students to ensure that everyone has access to digital education opportunities without financial barriers, and to realize the concept of education as a basic right for all.

Experts at the World Bank estimate that adopting digital education technologies in developing countries can contribute to increasing economic growth by up to 2% annually. This figure summarizes the promising potential of this sector in achieving economic development, which makes adopting digital education a strategic option to stimulate growth in emerging economies.

The expected growth of the e-learning market, estimated to reach $457.8 billion by 2026, is an additional incentive for the Arab world to benefit from this technological boom. Continued investment in infrastructure, content development, and training of personnel can enable the region to assume a leading position in the e-learning sector worldwide. Arab cooperation in this field, through the exchange of expertise and coordination of efforts, can contribute to enhancing access to digital education and its development in an integrated manner.

Ultimately, digital education is not just a technological tool, but a real opportunity to build an educational future based on innovation and inclusiveness. Hence, decision-makers in the Arab world must adopt a comprehensive vision based on digital education as an essential part of national development strategies, not only to achieve an educational renaissance but also to build a digital society capable of keeping pace with global transformations and contributing to achieving sustainable development goals.