Community Colleges in Saudi Arabia - Term Paper Example

Community Colleges in Saudi Arabia and Practice Surname, Name Professor Course Institution Date Introduction Education, in today’s world, has become a basic need. As we continue to experience various revolutions, daily. The introduction of community colleges in many parts of the world is a crucial step towards ensuring that everyone in the world is educated. Community colleges trace their roots back to Australia, where adult education was first introduced (Johnson, 2005). With time, adult education was spread in various parts of the world, in the form of community colleges. Most of them run two year diploma programs. This calls for the introduction of various short courses that can help adults to get employed after attending community colleges. Saudi Arabia is one of the colleges that have benefited from the introduction of community colleges. Community colleges in many countries were introduced into different societies by the government through already established colleges and universities (Latiner & Valeau, 2009). In Saudi Arabia, they were established by universities, because they could not be able to absorb all students who came from high school. This means that students who did not pass well in high school would join these community colleges. They were simply extensions of high schools, to help those adults who had dropped out of high school. In the recent past, community colleges in Saudi Arabia have had heated discussions aimed at improving them, and making them more useful to the students, than they currently are. The rate of students’ dropout from these colleges has been high, and has raised alarm over the cause of this drop out. 2.2 Geographical and Cultural Context of Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country, and they speak Arabic as their official language (Ramady, 2005). It is located in the South eastern part of Asia and has an estimated population of about 19 million people. It occupies a geographical region of about 900,000 square kilometers. King Abdul Aziz established the country in the year 1932. Many youths in the country are enrolled in community colleges, where they develop different skills. This shows that these colleges have a pretty significant value in the country. Men are more literate than women Johnson, 2005). Education is, however, starting to develop, as more people get to colleges and women are also starting to be enlightened. There have been remarkably few professionals in the country, although with the new developments in higher education, the future is surely bright (Boroch, 2010). The Saudi Arabian government has shown concern over the development of higher education and is constantly working towards, ensuring that they develop the quality of higher education in the country, as they also consider developing international universities in the country (Wood & Nevarez, 2010). 2.3. Importance of Community Colleges in Saudi Arabia The introduction of community colleges has had a highly significant effect in the country. Community colleges have been responsible for a great increase in the total college graduates in Saudi Arabia. The role of these colleges has continually increased, since their introduction, as more people learn the importance of education (Wood & Nevarez, 2010). These colleges have provided a chance for high school students, who did not pass well to further their studies, as universities cannot be able to absorb all of them. The colleges help decongested universities, by allowing students, who performed highly to join universities, while they educate those who did not pass well (Boggs., et. al, 2008). They are hence able to get one year, or two year college credit, depending on their field of study and as a result, they develop essential life skills. It is, therefore, true to say that these colleges are vital in ensuring economic development in Saudi Arabia; by developing students’ personal skills and impacting them with knowledge for personal, economic empowerment, which later translates to the aggregate economic development. Community colleges are hence crucial in developing the country’s workforce, hence helping students, who would never have a chance to enter universities, to be able to earn a decent income out of these skills. Successful students from community colleges, who usually open their business, however, small, may end up employing two or three people from the society. This multiplied by the number of businesses opened by products of these community colleges translates to the creation of employment, which lead to increased living standards in the country. 2.4. Obstacles to the Development of Community Colleges in Saudi Arabia First of all it is not any easy, to identify the main factor that is responsible for the high rate of students drop out from these community colleges. This means that, a lot of initiatives have to be set to ensure that the causes of the high rate of students drop out from community colleges are established and controlled appropriately. Despite the fact that community colleges have significant roles in Saudi Arabia, these obstacles have been a hindrance to the development of the same colleges. The main problem that has been an issue of concern for a long time is how these students of the community colleges are treated, especially those community colleges that are owned by universities (Wood & Nevarez, 2010). Most of these community college students do not receive equal treatment like those in the universities (Boggs., et. al, 2008). This makes community colleges look inferior and for people who failed. A clear example is that students in the community colleges are not given money the same way like students who are in the university. Poor relationship between the colleges and their students is another problem (Boroch, 2010). Colleges usually make policies without considering the student’s opinions and sometimes ignore their circumstances, this is well explained when it comes to the preparation of students’ schedule. This is a communication problem. Exam timetables for short exams are compressed within unusually short periods, and in some cases, students circumstances are not observed so that the college can establish the most appropriate times for scheduling. Low motivation among students usually causes some of them to leave school. It is also a prime reason why students in community colleges hardly take mathematics and science courses. They have not been motivated by their colleges because some of their teachers also have a lot of variance at work. This is bad for the student because when the teachers do not agree with each other, the student will not get quality. The quality of education being offered should also be improved (Boggs., et. al, 2008). Community colleges usually offer a year and two year degree programs; this does not mean that these are poor degrees, they are able to empower the students with skills for economic development, even though they do not learn as much as those who study in universities and private colleges. However, these colleges put a lot of emphasis on preparatory subjects, rather than allowing students to take subject specialization subjects early enough. This is among of the qualities that lower the quality of education since students do not get enough time to get enough skills at school; early specialization would have allowed them to get more professional skills and experience that employers are looking for. The colleges also offer easy exams to their students, which mean that most of these students get accredited for what they do not understand well. Employers have a problem with employing most of these students who come from the community colleges and instead employ those who went to much competitive colleges and universities. Private colleges and universities have better evaluation systems than these colleges and that is why employers prefer students who went through universities and private colleges, for the reason that they are well qualified (Johnson, 2005). This is a formidable challenge that leaves most of them jobless, which may mean that they wasted time in school (Latiner & Valeau, 2009). It is a possible factor that is responsible for the high students’ dropout from community colleges; they feel that the education will not help them to earn themselves an income, and prefer to dropout and do something else that can help them support their families. Student dropout is hence a problem of attitude and motivation. When students feel like they will not get employed after school, they lose their motivation for continue learning. Researc shows that many families have developed a negative perspective of these colleges since they do not help their students to get employed (Johnson, 2005). Because of this, many families do not support their members who participate in these educational programs; they hence get demoralized and drop out of school. This is an important factor that should be given keen attention, since the family has a particularly big sway on the lives of many people. There is also the fact that after these colleges students can hardly proceed to higher levels of education (Ramady, 2008). This is because their performance is usually too low to be taken by the higher institutions of higher learning, students hence always get discouraged because they know that they are just wasting their time in these community schools and will never be able to achieve their dreams, even if they hold on to them. Despite the fact, that there are all these obstacles to sustainable development of these colleges, students, should be dropping out of school; instead they should try to look for a solution, along with their administration (Tusting & Barton, 2010). However, because they have not discovered the main objective of community colleges, they drop out. Most of them just go in school because they are free and because college is a stage of life, but they do not know the reason for school. If they did, they would have searched for a solution. This has seriously hindered the development of these colleges and the level of education in them. The problems discussed in this section are general problems, although they affect men mostly. However, most women are faced with the problems when it comes to being employed; this is because they can only work in a few professions, which makes it difficult for them to get employed due to the small scope of work that they have. 2.5. How to Reduce the Rate at which Students Drop from Colleges The rate of students drop out from community colleges can be reduced to help more students benefit from these colleges. Controlling the problems faced by these community colleges is not easy (Boroch, 2010). It needs keen attention and careful strategies that will ensure that the problems are dealt with, and that community colleges are assured of their perpetual existence, for the good of the whole society, and country at large. In a bid to curb the situation, these colleges should focus towards developing students who can be employed in leading companies. This will involve intensifying their training and developing new, strong curriculum practices that will ensure the students get training, which will enable them to be competitive. An exemplary curriculum will mean that students are taught the right skills, which will include both theoretical and practical lessons that will give them a tight grip of the knowledge they need, in order to be competitive in the employment sector. Another move should be towards curbing absenteeism and drop out. Once this is dealt with, it will be easy to solve the other problems since students will have shown their interest to continue learning and acquire knowledge for their own benefit and that of the general society. To do this, there is a need for a high awareness campaign that will be responsible for helping the society understand the goals of community colleges and their importance (Boggs., et. al, 2008). Understanding this will help students to focus on their studies; this will help to bring the students' body, and spirit in classroom, considering that concentration is high when the body and the spirit are at par since they are one thing (Fenwick, 2008). Alumnus of these community colleges, who have gone out and succeeded, should be used to give motivational talks and confirm how valuable these colleges are to the society. This will be the best way of handling poor attitudes, once the problem of attitude is dealt with efficiently; the next task will be to work towards developing a new system of education, which will be of a high quality and international standards (Wood & Nevarez, 2010). This will create a need for holding the meeting and interactive discussions with the students and the whole society to try and ensure that the problems are identified, and solutions suggested. In this line, these solutions will be analyzed for viability and a consensus should be reached as to how these problems can be solved. Among the major solutions to these obstacles, the schools should revise their curriculum so that it also incorporates the co-curriculum activities (Tusting & Barton, 2010). This will be a significant step towards breaking students’ boredom and containing them in school for long. Athletics and sporting activities can be introduced so that students get an opportunity to further their talents in school, as well (Bunt-Kokhuis, 2009). Another solution is to introduce inter school events that will ensure that these students interact with each other, from different schools and learn from each other. The introduction of guiding and counseling department will also serve a serious purpose in helping students who want to drop out of school, and as a result, help to reduce the level of students’ drop out (Latiner & Valeau, 2009). It is noteworthy that the government also considers helping out these colleges to stabilize before they can withdraw their support. In an attempt to elevate the level of education, the government should provide modern resource to these colleges, or call on donors and well wishers to do the same. This will be a high step towards ensuring quality, since everyone is seeking to be competitive in the market (Fenwick, 2008). Teachers should receive regular training to update them and help them improve on their knowledge and skill, which will ensure that they deliver quality to the students (Wheelahan, 2008). This means that modern laboratories should be established, and schools should also acquire modern facilities like computer, which will help to raise the level of education received in these schools. The introduction of modern technology will surely be a positive step towards ensuring that the quality of education is boosted. Community colleges should, therefore, be able to provide high quality education, which should be aimed at impacting professional skills and knowledge to the adult learners, so that they will be enabled to fit into the employment world after their schooling. They should also learn other skills that can help them develop their own ideas and use them to earn income, after their college studies. Some of the main objective of modern college studies are economic empowerment and sustainability (Boroch, 2010). It will hence be inline with the modern education’s goal to establish systems that will empower the citizens of Saudi Arabia economically. 3.0. Emerging Trends in Community Colleges in Saudi Arabia 3.1. Modernization Community colleges in Saudi Arabia are slowly starting to embrace new trends as the world continues to undergo revolutions daily. They are starting to adopt modernization, which calls for the use modern equipment and educational curriculum (Rao, 2007). They are starting to adopt new technologies as well as developed education systems that can ensure that the sole reason of education is achieved smoothly to teach, this improves the quality of the material that students receive, apart from empowering them with useful computer skills. Modernization also includes modern administrative systems that are designed to ensure quality management in the schools, in an attempt to achieve their sole goal and objective. Quality assurance departments are also set, and students’ administrative bodies formed to ensure that the views of students are aired to the administration. This is a student centered system where the school works towards improving the quality of material that is delivered to students. 3.2. Globalization As the community colleges yearn to seek improved standard of education and high ratings, they are starting to adopt globalization (Tusting & Barton, 2010). They are seeking links with other international colleges, so that they can be able to adopt the quality standards of the international society, and also learn more activities that can be introduced in these community colleges in Saudi Arabia, in an attempt to improve the level of education. Schools are also adopting standardized methods of evaluation so that they can make sure that only qualified students get certified (Boroch, 2010). Globalization is beneficial since it helps the students, along with the college administration to understand other people’s views from a global perspective (Fenwick 2008). This helps them to develop other ways of teaching and learning, through the views that they receive due to globalization. The ultimate achievement will be that students will also have improved skills, which means that they will be able to find jobs easily. 3.3. Diversification Diversification is an inevitable road to success. Community colleges are starting to diversify in their operation. They are adopting other activities like sports and debates that can contain students in school for long. Schools are also diversifying in terms of introducing new courses that can help students prepare for their future careers, as well lessons that can help students to develop their talents and personalities (Wood & Nevarez, 2010). Many schools are starting to divide into several departments because they are expanding their operations. 4.0. Future of Community Colleges in Saudi Arabia In the past, community colleges had begun to deteriorate, and they seemed to have a bleak future. However, with the current trends that are being observed, it is definite that these colleges have a bright future ahead. Saudi Arabia is among other Arab countries that are constantly seeking to lower level of illiteracy (Rao, 2008). Trends like diversification and globalization are expected to play a vital role in brightening the future of these colleges. The future of these colleges, therefore, is that of high tech colleges that prepare students to join the employment world and develop them to have personal skills, which they can use to design and develop their own activities and large businesses for the benefit of their own economic growth and that of the whole society. Community colleges will also develop relations with leading universities, so that they can start offering university programs to students who merit (Boroch, 2010). There is a high hope that the government will revise its policy and help these colleges to build better structures, and develop an internationally recognized curriculum. The learning process is changing extremely rapidly, and many people, even those in the employment sector are starting to go back to school to increase their knowledge (Fenwick, 2008). This means that community colleges in the future will have many people from different levels. 5.0. Conclusion Community colleges in Saudi Arabia are been on the spot light for their quality of education and this has had a decidedly negative effect on them. From this essay, it is evident that these colleges are on the age of a revolution and that they are having many of challenges. However, there is a hope that they have a bright future that will see these colleges develop and grow to start offering diverse courses, while at the same time improving the education quality, to prepare students for their professional future. This essay has shown that Saudi Arabia is not all that shoddy with its education. The fact that it has adopted community colleges, despite the challenges, show that it is on the right track, however, what needs to be done is just improvements on its education systems so that they can all be valued by the community. Community colleges should be improved so that their positive impact can be felt by the community. References Boggs, R. et. al. 2008. Global Development of Community Colleges, Technical Colleges, and Further Education Programs. Washington DC: Amer. Assn. of Community Col Press. Boroch, J. 2010. Student Success in Community Colleges: A Practical Guide to Developmental Education. New York: John Wiley & Sons Publishing. Bunt-Kokhuis, S. 2009. Competing for Talent. Groningen: Uitgeverij Van Gorcum Publishers Fenwick, T. 2008. “Work Place Learning; Emerging Trends and New Perspectives,” New Directors in Education for Adult and Continuing Education, no. 119, Fall.17-26. Sage Publishers. Johnson, C. 2005. Establishing & Sustaining Learning-Centered Community Colleges. Washington DC: Amer. Assn. of Community Col Press. Latiner, R., & Valeau, E. 2009. Community College Models: Globalization and Higher Education Reform. California: Springer Publishers. Ramady, M. 2005. The Saudi Arabian Economy: Policies, Achievements, and Challenges. New York. Springer Publishers. Rao, B. 2007. World Education Forum. New Delhi: Discovery Publishers Tusting, K., & Barton, D. 2010. Beyond Communities Of Practice: Language, Power and Social Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Wheelahan, L. 2008. “What about Knowledge? The deskilling of teacher’s work” The Australian TAFE Teacher, Autumn, 6-7. Wood, L., & Nevarez , C. 2010. Community College Leadership and Administration: Theory, Practice, and Change. New York: Peter Lang Publishing Press. Read More