Mashari Althaydi

By : Mashari Althaydi

I recently read a funny yet provocative piece of news in the Egyptian daily Almasry Alyoum that addresses a real problem in the education sector.

The report said the following: “During their midterm exams, third-year philosophy students at the Beni Suef University answered a question related to Jesus Christ as per German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s vision. Some students wrote how Jesus was betrayed by Jehovah – as per Nietzsche’s vision – and wrote that Jehovah sold out Jesus to the Romans for $30.”

Nietzsche said the treacherous disciple betrayed Jesus for three pieces of silver and not $30 because, obviously, the dollar did not exist at the time and America itself hadn’t been discovered yet.

Almasry Alyoum’s report quoted Dr Mohammed Kamal, teacher of philosophy of ethics at the Beni Suef University, as saying that he was surprised that more than 15 students wrote “Jehovah sold out Jesus for $30” in their exam answers and none of them thought for a second that Jesus was born 2017 years ago.

Adopting the principle of reward and punishment and maintaining the proficiency of learning are keys to eliminating element of disrespect among the youth

Mashari Althayidi

Teachers’ woes

“This is not the first time this happens. Last year, when asked about the pharaohs’ most significant hobbies, a large number of students replied motorbikes,” Kamal said.

The frustrated philosophy teacher concluded saying: “The government must provide blood pressure and diabetes medication to us, the teachers, in order to cope with what we go through.”

Some may see these stupid answers as a joke but this is not the case. We all know what a university degree means to young people, especially to Egyptians amid these difficult circumstances. It is a critical requirement to succeeding in life and work.

The right description is that these answers – and this is why this is a disaster – represent the level of education and awareness and reflect the extent of carelessness, dullness and intellectual void.

Dangerous repercussions

These are dangerous indications, which has potential for dangerous repercussions. These are not isolated examples as they are rather increasing due to the illusion of knowledge, which social media and internet searches create.

Many young men are brave to the extent of being reckless in terms of pretending that they know everything. Of course, not all young people are like that, as some of them make a great example.

I think adopting the principle of reward and punishment and maintaining the proficiency of learning are keys to eliminating element of disrespect among the youth.

Improving the quality of education and respecting knowledge are the only means to build personalities so that diabetes does not become common among teachers.

Saudi journalist Mashari Althaydi presents Al Arabiya News Channel’s “views on the news” daily show “Maraya.” He has previously held the position of a managing senior editor for Saudi Arabia & Gulf region at pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat. Althaydi has published several papers on political Islam and social history of Saudi Arabia. He appears as a guest on several radio and television programs to discuss the ideologies of extremist groups and terrorists. He tweets under @MAlthaydy.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in the Column section are their own and do not reflect RiyadhVision’s point-of-view.

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