His Excellency the Minister of Education and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National eLearning Center, Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Al-Sheikh, emphasized the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince for education in the Kingdom, especially during the suspension of educational institutions caused by the global outbreak of the Covid19 pandemic. Such tremendous support resulted in the smooth and swift transition to continue the educational process remotely, and the impressive success achieved despite the challenges and difficulties.
Dr. Al-Sheikh while chairing the 4th (virtual) meeting of the Center's Board of Directors reviewed the efforts exerted to utilize eLearning to ensure the continuity of education in the current phase among several topics on the agenda.
Dr. Al-Sheikh said that eLearning post-COVID-19 will not be the same as before, commending the role of the NELC before and during this crisis, stressing that the Center will have a greater role during the coming phase, especially with the recent developments and with the global accelerating trend towards eLearning and related technologies. Highlighting the fact that eLearning has become a strategic choice not just remedial. He called for the need to document the experience of eLearning in the Kingdom during this time, whether in higher or K-12 education.
Dr. Abdullah Alwalidi, the NELC Director General praised the efforts of the Ministry of Education and the Saudi universities to ensure learning continuity. Dr. Alwalidi added that we need to seize this unique opportunity to enhance eLearning on the national level calling for the expansion of eLearning in all educational institutions across the country in accordance with standards and regulations to ensure the best practices.
During the meeting, the Board of Directors acknowledged the success achieved in eLearning during the pandemic, and the wise management of the Ministry for Education and the Saudi universities which resulted in swift transformation to eLearning and ensured learning continuity.
