RIYADH: Students in Saudi Arabia have more craving for knowledge, as compared with students in foreign countries, said Dr. G.S. Pradeep, a leading Indian educationist and author of five books. Pradeep came to fame as ‘reverse quiz' master and his ability to conduct shows on stage and Indian television channels. He was on a 14-day visit to Saudi Arabia. The Indian expatriate students are more greedy toward knowledge, while the education back home (India) is more like products manufactured in a factory, said Pradeep after a felicitation ceremony organized by Huda Group of Schools in Riyadh recently. The occasion also witnessed the launch of smartindia card, promoted by the government of India as part of e-learning for Indian students living within and outside India. Prince Khaled Bin Mansour Al-Saud, the guest of honor on the occasion launched the smartindia card. T.P. Muhammad, CEO of Al-Huda Group of Schools in Saudi Arabia, principals of various international community schools in Riyadh and a huge parent community were among those present. “Here in Saudi Arabia the students are more interested to seek knowledge, the most important factor perhaps for that would be the religion of Islam that inculcates a craving to seek knowledge,” he said. “Even in my shows I conducted back home in India the students applying to participate in the reverse quiz competition are Muslims,” said Pradeep. He said the only problem for Indian students enrolled at schools affiliated to New Delhi-based Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is the lack eco-friendly education system that deprived the students from hands-on geographical or biological tours study the natural anatomy of plant or animal life. Speaking about the smart card that was launched for students in Saudi Arabia, Pradeep said it would be a boon for Indian and students of other nationalities that would want to make most of their time even while surfing the Internet. The smartindia card has many advantages, if you compare the difference of education between the private tuition offered by a teacher at his/her premises and the process of e-learning through smart card, he said. “It is something that not only saves time but also help to learn more in less expenditure,” he claims. He said the students are exposed to a large number of teachers for each subject available online and clarify their doubts until they are totally satisfied.
