The Second Qatar Communities Round-Table Discussion Organized by the DICID

20 Mar The Second Qatar Communities Round-Table Discussion Organized by the DICID

The Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue organized and hosted in collaboration with the Qatar Debates Center, Christian Church Steering Committee and Friends Cultural Center the second round-table discussion on the topic “The Role of Education in strengthening ties among Communities in Qatar” yesterday at the Millenium Hotel-Al-Sadd.

Prominent members of Doha’s civil society and Academics spoke at this event. Some of the key themes that were discussed including religious values in curriculum, inter-community understanding promoted by schools and religious views on education’s role in building societies.

Dr. Ibrahim Al Naimi welcomed the participants, speakers and chairs to the second roundtable discussion on “The Role of Education in Strengthening ties among Communities in Qatar”. Father Bill Schwartz stressed the importance of learning about different religions as a base to understand each other and co-exist peacefully. “Each one of us should be willing to learn about the other and have the due respect of his values and views,” Schwartz said, adding: “Schools should be supported by parents, mosques, churches, and the community at large in order to carry its role properly in educating children good values.”

Mr. Saeed Muhammad argued for education to become a tool that may strengthen ties between different communities. He raised the importance of compassion in interaction between communities that may lead to a feeling of empathy. If we can feel pain of the other than we can relate to others better.

These preliminary speeches were followed by a student debate organised by Qatar Debate Center in which the proposition argued for “Religious tolerance Education should be made mandatory in schools”. The opposition argued that tolerance should be substituted by mutual respect and understanding. They also demonstrated through examples how difficult it would be for young children to understand the concepts on which different religious traditions are built on. The debate focused on the comparison between family and schools in influencing the personality development of young children.

Panelists argued that children should be instructed indirectly in values pertaining to religious values. They argued that Islamic education is education of values. They further stressed the importance of teachers and administrators as role models whose example is emulated by their students. Religious values remain constant since their source is not society but the Divine that is unchanging. Truth, non-violence and tolerance are common to all religions and should be part of school curriculum. However, religious education which focuses on the difference between different religions can delayed for a later age. The notion of development for understanding early childhood psychology was highlighted. Islamic identity is by nature open.

A lecturer at Qatar University, Dr. Qhadnana Al-Binali, emphasized that the curriculum at school should focus on teaching children the general norms and values like mutual respect, honesty, forgiveness. “The curriculum should not address complex issues like concept of religious tolerance. The children tend to learn by example, it is the teacher, the parents and the community who should practice these concepts and then children will definitely follow suit,” said Al-Binali.

The speakers encouraged creating bridges between different cultures based on this open Islamic identity. We must recognise the inherent nobility in all humans so that we can become humble participants of our communities. Education seeks the transformation of personality so that she can be dignified to every person and bring us closer to our Creator. Teachers must treat every student as they would treat their own child. If we change attitude rather than aptitude we can reach high altitudes, said one speaker. Although Qatar is an Islamic state however we interact with each other on the basis of common humanity and civility which does not contradict religious values.

The forum was attended by a large number of experts, students, and school teachers. The debate focused mainly whether it would be proper to introduce concepts of religious tolerance at the early age of schooling or at a later stage. The debaters differed widely on the role of teachers in instilling values and changing attitudes of children at school.