D.Talal
Abu-Ghazaleh
With each global
crisis, it becomes increasingly clear that traditional methods, including education,
are far more fragile than we once expected. The recent surge in energy prices;
due to the war on Iran, has led many to assume that the impact would be limited
to fuel, transportation, or the cost-of-living. However, its consequences
extend far deeper. These disruptions do not simply reshape economies; rather
they mark the end of an entire way of life, as we once knew it, with
traditional education among the most significantly impacted.
The truth that can
no longer be denied or ignored is that traditional education, characterized by
compulsory physical attendance, outdated curricula, and rote memorization, has
faded away. This model is no longer capable of keeping up with the rapid
transformations shaping the modern world, nor can it effectively withstand
external pressures such as rising energy costs or disruptions in global supply
chains.
Schools and
universities, as we know them, have become part of a costly and inefficient system
whose effectiveness weakens with each successive crisis. Increases in fuel
prices not only disrupt transportation and supply chains; but also affect the
entire education sector. As the operational costs, commuting, and even the
continuity of the learning process all come into question, it is imperative to
take the lead in embracing digital education; not as a temporary or
supplementary solution in times of crises, but as the only method capable of
ensuring sustained continuity.
Here, I would
like to reaffirm, as I have always reiterated, that the real transformation is
not only related to the shift from physical classrooms to digital screens;
rather it requires a fundamental redefinition of the very concept of learning.
The goal is no longer to store information; but to use, develop, and transform
it into value. Programming also emerges here; not as a specialization, but as a
fundamental language of this era. Today, programming represents what reading
and writing once did in earlier ages; it unlocks access to the digital economy
and enables individuals to create and contribute regardless of their
geographical location.
In this
context, practical initiatives that recognize this transformation emerge, such
as efforts undertaken by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global Digital (TAG.GD), which has
continuously worked on manufacturing a tablet dedicated to digital education as
part of its preparation for entering the era of advanced learning. This
initiative represents a strategic effort to rebuild an entire educational
system based on digital access and designed to serve future-oriented skills
rather than reusing old tools and approaches.
War does more
than just redraw borders on a map, it fundamentally reshapes priorities. If
education remains bound to its traditional model, it will turn from a tool of
advancement into a burden. Conversely, if it were redesigned according to the
logic of the digital age, it can become one of the most important tools for
resilience and adaptability.
In the end, I
always say that the matter is no longer a discussion between traditional and
digital methods; it is a choice between a system that weakens with each crisis
and one that persists and evolves. Simply, traditional education no longer
belongs to the future. The future is written in a different language; one that is
defined by code, data, and continuous learning anytime, anywhere, and under any
circumstances.