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Al-Ahram Weekly 6 - 12 April 2000 Issue No. 476 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 6 - 12 April 2000 Issue No. 476
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Summit Features Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters A democracy of science
By Awatef Abdel-Rahman *
If we were to evaluate the state of scientific research in Egypt, we would find both advantages and shortcomings. Chief among the positive aspects is Egypt's possession of the most important asset for scientific development, namely, human resources. Egyptians in general are uniquely endowed with very special characteristics, such as perseverance, the desire to learn, the ability to give, the will to survive, patience, perspicacity and deep insight. Above all, they rise to challenges, whether in the form of restricted financial resources, the tyranny of rulers, the dominance of bureaucracy, or opportunistic egocentrism of local leaders.
On the other hand, several negative factors impede the employment and management of intellectual talents, besides crushing the creative potential that abounds in Egyptian society. These factors may be summed up in a few points: the system of education, which relies on didactic repetition and rote learning; social upbringing, which focuses on total obedience and submission to inherited cultural and social habits; the meagre budgets allocated to scientific research (0.6 per cent of the national budget); bureaucratic control of scientific and cultural activities; disregard of scientific research as a prerequisite for promotion in production, cultural and educational sectors.
Only by creating a scientific and democratic climate in universities and research centres, thus ensuring freedom for all schools of thought, will we be able to participate effectively in the enrichment of human civilisation, without media fanfare, or strident cultural chauvinism.
* This week's Soapbox speaker is professor of communications at Cairo University.
