A member of the Shura Council, Dr. Hassan Al-Hazmi, considered that the number of beneficiaries from the national project to enhance the basic skills of teachers in the Arabic language, mathematics and science subjects is few. The institute’s annual report revealed that it trained 1,636 mathematics teachers, 1,122 science teachers, and 857 Arabic language teachers. Al-Hazmi believes that the number of trainees is small compared to the number of teachers for these subjects, and he wondered: How can the institute, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, attract teachers to benefit from this important project?
Al-Hazmi called on the institute to clarify the courses, programs and training workshops: were they in-person or remote? How many beneficiaries were there? Is it recurring or a one-time implementation?
He inquired about the five seminars and the four workshops; Was it in person or remotely?, explaining that in light of the number of attendees mentioned in some of them, the numbers of attendees in general are few and not commensurate with the size of the targeted teachers.
Al-Hazmi stressed that the institute focuses its attention on developing the category of teachers, which is a large category, but the numbers of attendees for these programs, courses and events do not match their large numbers and do not achieve the desired and desired impact.
Al-Hazmi suggested that the institute work on developing effective practical mechanisms and procedures that would enable it to attract target groups to join its courses and development programs. To achieve the desired effect in the field of education.
Al-Hazmi commented on what the report described as challenges, and said that the institute’s need for qualified cadres and experts in its main and supportive work, and the limited budget that does not enable the institute to implement qualitative programs in the professional development of educational job holders; I don’t see it as a real challenge at the moment. It may be in the long term, but for the time being it does not pose challenges; The fact that the Ministry of Education, whether in higher education or general education, is full of qualified cadres and distinguished experts in the field of work and tasks of the institute, and they are the closest and most numerous people.
Regarding the limited budget and the institute’s inability to implement qualitative programmes, he said: This challenge refutes the amount of spending from the budget, 70 million of which only 15% was spent.
He stressed that he does not agree with the recommendation of the first committee, which calls for support for the Institute’s efforts to expand the circle of attracting specialized competencies in its field from outside the Ministry of Education, in a way that enables it to carry out its tasks and achieve its goals with high efficiency, pointing out that the specialized competencies in the Ministry of Education are very many. He asked: Where is the one looking for her? Then how many competencies has the institute attracted from the Ministry of Education so far? Adding: I am not talking about employees, their number does not exceed 42, but I am talking about consultants, researchers and experts.
He revealed the ability of the Ministry of Education to provide and present competencies, and said: If it becomes sterile, look outside it. He added: I am not against diversification and benefiting from all possible experiences, but I am against rushing and jumping on what is in our hands and searching for what is in the hands of others.
The committee did not agree with its first recommendation and suggested that it be postponed to a later stage.
Al-Hazmi criticized the third recommendation, which says: The institute should coordinate with the relevant authorities to highlight the institute’s services and strategic directions through a comprehensive media plan. He said: This recommendation is not direct in achieving its goal, as the justifications mentioned by the committee do not lead to this recommendation. It reveals that the institute does not have a website and that its publicity and promotion of its work and programs is weak.
