“In Qatari society, the issue of inappropriate content on the Internet is a huge barrier to wholesale adoption of the technology. Some parents resist children's Internet use and a wide technological divide exists between children and their parents. Although parents can protect their children physically from negative influences, they feel vulnerable when it comes to the Internet. So, although many e-education initiatives are technologically and pedagogically effective, children may not enroll because of parental anxiety. Qatar will offer parents and teachers training and e-security programmes,” the document presented at the World Economic Forum 2008 says.
The report underpins the need for Qatari society changing its approach to the technology development. The other societies are undergoing a technology-fueled transformation. Likewise, the mindset and attitudes of Qatari families, institutions, bureaucracy, and other societal structures requires dramatic change so that people can access technology and think differently and creatively. Although such change will take time, Qatar's strategy to date has been to inform and engage all stakeholders.
However, there are also incidents where the older generation is learning from the younger one. "For instance, today the Holy Quran is available on the Internet. The fact that children and parents can read and study their religion electronically demonstrates how technology can strengthen families. Reading from the Quran is even heard through computer loudspeakers in many households. This could not have been imagined by the older generation,” says the document.
The document says that Qatar is planning an innovative series of state-of-the-art e-government programmes, which will be implemented over the next three years. The government has already short-listed 52 initiatives that include hundreds of online services to benefit citizens and households as well as business and government employees. Sixteen initiatives are currently in progress, and another 12 will be launched in the coming months.
By 2008-2009, there will be technologies in place for the visually impaired, the hearing impaired, and those with learning difficulties. Qatar envisages a technology-rich learning community, where parents, students, and teachers have timely access to information.
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Quelle/Source: The Peninsula, 12.04.2008
