Schools Principals Are Ruining Egypt. Totally Disappointed.

Being in my university’s governing council taught me one essential and important thing about Egypt.

We always said
* It is what it is.
* This is just because the bureaucracy demands it.
* You have to not question your superiors.
* We know better than you do.
* Don’t ask too many questions.
* It is not up to the students to decide. It is up to the schools discretion.

AND
We ask ourselves why is our country falling in pieces?

I got the answer for you.

We have learned to say these phrases in OUR schools, not talking about public schools but OUR Catholic Schools. Seriously !
Generation after generation kept saying that. We learn to put Blinkers and not think about what was not told to us. Thinking outside the box was not acceptable.

If you wear shorts in class, shorts that the school provided (well sold, after all it is a catholic school), you get into a huge argument with your professor who thinks they are not suppose to be worn in class.
(Mathematics Professor)

If you argue with your professor about a tiny little thing in class, without being impolite, they would kick you out of class and call the head of the department for this (Calling the head of the department is a big deal) And he would tell you just let it go. BUT you are still kicked out of this class.
WHAT ???
This makes no sense!
(Language Professor)

If you don’t know the answer to a question they tell you that you will be a failure in life.
(Head of a Language at the school and a Professor)

Yes, I am calling you out.

We put people like us in high positions, who had the same values, who were in the same extracurricular activities, and who attended the same school for a chance of a better school because we trust they will try to make it better.

And yet Nothing happens to the country. NOTHING.
We get people who say the same things over and over. At this point, they are programmed.

First person
* If you have the intention on fixing it or want a change:
You will tell me “Well, it is easy to find the mistakes and complain, how can you fix it ?”

Second person
* If you won’t do anything but wanna complain about what I wrote:
You will tell me “Well, you left!”
I will reply: “Help build a better generation if you decided to stay, stop complaining, at this point it is up to you, do a good job, the country depends on it.”

Third person
* If you won’t do anything but wanna complain about what I wrote:
You will tell me “Well, your mom was a principal, what did she do!”
I will reply: “I don’t know, I don’t think she was trying to change Egypt at that point, with all the corruption that was happening and all, but she should have tried also talk to the second person they will tell you what you should also do.”

What I would do to fix it:
1. Firstly evaluate the teacher every 2 years
2. Be aware that in my school is in French then the website should also be in French not in Arabic (or any other language)!
2.1. Option: if we don’t have the right ideas on how to build a good website we can borrow ideas (without plagiarism, which we have not been thought). Look at other schools website not in your country only but around the world.
3. Our biggest mistake and the reason that drove me to write this post.
We as a country, in our education system or that what teacher told us, have a requirement to do an election for the Student Body Governing Council AKA إتحاد الطلبة. This is how our students learn about voting taking “government” positions and being able to make a change in the environment where they live.
How do we conduct this?
We do it at the deadline just because we are required by the government.
We tell students: “ This is just because the bureaucracy demands it.” just do it and “Don’t ask too many questions” (remember this phrases ?)
When we ask what does the duties for each position, the answer is: It is just formalities, you guys don’t have to do anything! In fact, you can’t do anything “ It is not up to the students to decide on the changes that need to be done. It is up to the schools discretion.”

Then the Student Body Governing Council meets for a few meetings without making any real changes because again they can’t. And then stop meeting because what is the point of wasting time and no change is done.

This is exactly what the government is doing, by making people give up on their dreams by telling them with one way or the other there is no way that anyone can make a difference.

When we talk about changing the country, we talk about changing generations by teaching them the right values.
We can’t start from kindergarten and then wait for them to grow up and then complain by saying that it is taking too much. It has to be a change school wide or else the change is not going to happen.

Wake up people!

Fourth person
* If you won’t do anything but wanna complain about what I wrote:
You will tell me “Well, I am not in the education system, I don’t teach and I don’t care about this and I have wasted a lot of time reading your post!”
I will reply: “Firstly you didn’t loose time, secondly your kid is in this system, you are the audience that I am talking to. You have to go to school in the parent meetings and require and explaining for everything, you pay too much to not require change. You worked for your money hard, not it is time for school to work with the money they got.”

Students, you have to ask, complain and argue your professors on everything you don’t agree with, this is the way it should have been done, this is how you learn.

Disclaimer:
* I have not been there since 4 years, but I would not expect it to change that fast.
* If I made any vocabulary mistakes, I apologize. But definitely, let me know.
* I didn’t want to tag people, they know who they are. Also, I didn’t want to take school principals I just hope they get the message.
* Sorry If I offended anyone, reach out to me and I will make the necessary changes.

Sorry if it was long, but it had to be said.