Abu Al-Wafa: AI Has Brought Fundamental Transformations to Education

The Egyptian Cultural Office in Kuwait, under the patronage and in the presence of Ambassador Mohamed Gaber Aboualwafa of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Kuwait, organized a seminar titled “The Teacher: A Mission That Transcends Digital Transformations,” on October 3 at the office’s headquarters, in observance of World Teachers’ Day. The event featured participation from a distinguished group of academics, educators, and education stakeholders.

In his speech during the seminar, Ambassador Aboualwafa emphasized that honoring teachers represents an appreciation of their noble mission and pivotal role in shaping human beings and molding the future of nations. He noted that rapid developments in technology and artificial intelligence have brought about fundamental changes in educational tools and methods of acquiring knowledge; however, these advancements have not diminished the importance of the teacher’s role but have instead increased their responsibilities and solidified their status.

He clarified that the teacher’s role is no longer limited to transmitting knowledge and explaining content, but has evolved into that of a key partner in building students’ personalities, developing their critical thinking, creativity, and innovation skills, enhancing their awareness, and empowering them to interact with modern technology consciously and responsibly. He stressed that, regardless of how tools and methods evolve, the teacher remains the cornerstone of the educational process, capable of transforming knowledge into value, information into awareness, and technology into a tool for construction and development. He affirmed that investing in teachers is, in essence, investing in human capital and the future of societies.

Ambassador Aboualwafa expressed his appreciation for Kuwait’s keen interest in the education sector, its commitment to developing its educational system, and its efforts to elevate the status of teachers and enhance their professional and pedagogical capabilities. He praised the role of Kuwaiti academic and educational institutions in preparing and qualifying educational cadres and keeping pace with developments in the fields of education and pedagogy.

For her part, Egyptian Cultural Attaché Dr. Amira Abou El Makarim emphasized that technological advancement and artificial intelligence are tools capable of enhancing teachers’ performance and expanding their capabilities, but the core of the educational process remains tied to their human role and their ability to understand students, build their personalities, and develop their awareness and values. She stressed the importance of developing teacher preparation programs and continuous professional training to keep pace with rapid changes in educational tools and learners’ needs. She commended Kuwait’s focus on preparing teachers and linking them to society from the qualification stage, as well as the initiatives and opportunities it provides for community participation and volunteering, which contribute to preparing teachers who are conscious of their professional and societal responsibilities.

The seminar featured participation from Dr. Ahd Al-Hajeri, Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching Methods at the College of Basic Education, Kuwait University, and Dr. Reem Al-Attiyah, Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at the College of Basic Education. They presented academic and pedagogical perspectives on the future of the teaching profession in the context of digital transformation and the growing use of artificial intelligence applications.

The discussion addressed the requirements for preparing and qualifying teachers in the digital age, as well as ways to leverage modern technology to serve the educational process while preserving the human and pedagogical role of teachers in building students’ personalities and developing their skills and capabilities. The participants also shared practical experiences and expertise that reflected the extent of changes occurring in the educational system, emphasizing the need for continuous development of teacher preparation programs to align with the demands of the coming era, without compromising the core human and pedagogical mission of the teaching profession.

The seminar witnessed notable interaction from the audience, particularly Kuwait University students, who contributed comments and questions that enriched the discussion and facilitated the exchange of views on the current state and future of the teaching profession, and on the teacher’s role in consciously and responsibly utilizing modern technological tools to enhance educational quality and meet future requirements.