Bahrain hosts forum on tolerance in education

Manama, Bahrain hosted a forum on promoting tolerance and acceptance in educational institutions, organised by the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. The event was attended by Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Juma, Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Council (HEC), Dr. Mohammed Mutair Al Sharija, Director of the Gulf Arab States Educational Research Centre (GASERC), along with ministry officials, experts, and specialists from member states in curriculum development and social studies. In his opening remarks, the Minister of Education praised the initiatives of ABEGS and stressed the significance of the forum in highlighting the need to transform educational institutions into spaces of tolerance, coexistence, and dialogue. He underscored the importance of regularly reviewing curricula to incorporate human values, foster critical thinking, and promote acceptance while rejecting intolerance, all within the framework of respecting Arab and Islamic identity and Gulf cultural values. Al Sharija expressed his appreciation for Bahrain's support noting that the forum introduced participants to a guide developed by ABEGS aimed at raising awareness of tolerance and acceptance in schools. The forum also discussed how to apply the guide in education and the role of media in promoting these values. The forum featured three sessions: Dharar Belhoul Al Falasi, Executive Director of the Watani Al Emarat Foundation, discussed the role of media in spreading tolerance and acceptance; Dr. Moza Al Doy, Associate Professor at the University of Bahrain, focused on how these values contribute to social peace and coexistence; and Dr. Mohammed Hussain Al Sayed, Executive Director of the Salam Project in Saudi Arabia, explored strategies for promoting tolerance among school students. A discussion followed with experts and participants. Source: Bahrain News Agency