Doha, Qatar: To mark the International Day of Education, the Education Development Institute (EDI), a member of Qatar Foundation, hosted a symposium exploring the potential of bilingual education. The event focused on balancing the preservation of the mother tongue with embracing global cultures in educational curricula.
The symposium brought together a distinguished panel of educators and experts from Qatar Foundation and the region to address key topics, including fostering national identity through education, the challenges and opportunities of bilingual education, the significance of teaching Islamic civilization in international schools, and advancing innovation and excellence in education.
Dr. Aisha Al Megbali, Director of Qatar Academy Al Khor, part of Qatar Foundation's (QF) Pre-University Education, highlighted the academy's experience with bilingual education, shedding light on the challenges faced by Arabic-speaking students when entering an educational environment primarily reliant on English. She noted that the adoption of the bilingual education model in 2008 was a direct response to the needs of the community.
“Adopting the bilingual education model was a challenging step, but it was driven by the community’s desire for an educational system that strengthens cultural and linguistic identity, particularly in Arabic language and Islamic studies, while embracing elements of international education. This vision has been fundamental to our success."
“Many students initially struggled with mastering English, but over time, they gained confidence and the ability to use both languages fluently." Dr. Al Megbali continued, "Our goal is to graduate students who are not only bilingual but also capable of thriving and communicating effectively in diverse global contexts."
Dr. Al Megbali emphasized the pivotal role of the community in the success of these educational models, saying: "The community is a key driver in shaping and supporting educational frameworks, which must be tailored to meet the specific needs of the surrounding environment,
“Today, we are witnessing a significant increase in students' awareness of the importance of bilingual education and its vital role in achieving their future aspirations."
During one of the sessions, Dr. Martine Elie, Manager of Research & Evaluation at QF’s Pre-University Education and Dr. Mohamed Mahgoub, an Educational Researcher, presented the findings of a recent study focusing on three key initiatives: Dual Language education, "Akhlakuna" initiative, and the "Rasekh" initiative for curriculum localization. These initiatives aim to strike a balance between global and local curricula while fostering national identity, culture, local knowledge, and language preservation.
“The data revealed that over 90% of parents emphasize the importance of preserving the Arabic language while maintaining a balance between Arabic and English, reflecting a growing awareness of the value of bilingual education." Dr. Elie explained.
Dr. Elie also highlighted an intriguing paradox revealed by the study: while children predominantly use Arabic at home, the content they watch online, and television is often in English. She emphasized: "This reality underscores the need for curriculum localization initiatives to provide more educational resources and media content in Arabic that strengthen students' access to more culturally relevant media."
Dr. Mohamed Mahgoub emphasized that language is not merely a means of communication but an incubator for values, culture, and identity. He said: “If we lose the language, we lose both identity and culture. Therefore, embedding cultural identity into educational curricula is not a choice but a necessity to ensure future generations preserve their heritage amidst globalization challenges."
“QF does doesn’t simply adopt global curricula in their existing form; instead, it refines and adapts them to align with the Qatari context," Dr. Mahgoub explained. "This approach deepens students' connection to their culture and reality, firmly establishing QF as a pioneer in innovative education."
Dr. Mahgoub also highlighted the positive impact of bilingual education on the relationship between schools and the community, saying: "Educational initiatives, such as bilingual education, have reconnected families with schools by reinforcing shared values and increasing engagement between schools and parents."
Dr. Mahgoub emphasized that strengthening cultural and linguistic identity in education is vital, particularly given the diversity of Qatari society. He noted that the Arabic language serves as a cornerstone of national identity and plays a pivotal role in achieving Qatar's educational vision.
The symposium highlighted QF's commitment to providing comprehensive education that balances global openness with preserving national identity, emphasizing bilingual education as a key element in preparing linguistically proficient students rooted in their cultural heritage.
