Third International Conference on Communication & Media Studies

Abstract

There is a lack of media literacy in Egypt. The ministry of education, parents, kids, and school teachers refuse the idea of adding a new subject to school curriculum. Kids have an overloaded curriculum especially since the educational system is based on memorizing and lacks sports, arts, and any activities. Kids take private lessons to be able to succeed in schools. Thus, media literacy as a new subject is an economic and academic burden on kids and their parents. Also, teachers, specifically in public schools, teach many classes even if they are not specialized in these subjects. Teachers are afraid of being responsible for teaching more subjects than what they actually teach. Moreover, media are not encouraged to include media literacy in their content to avoid making audiences aware of media negatives and disadvantages. Due to the above, it is important to think of practical and innovative ideas and projects to spread awareness of media literacy. A survey of 500 young Egyptian parents is conducted to examine the obstacles of media literacy in Egypt and how to overcome. The results show that the majority of the sample accepts the idea of media literacy but through different ways that suit their economic, educational, social, and political current situations. For example, most of the young parents prefer giving a lecture every week in public and private schools by volunteers from mass communication and mass media professors besides organizing workshops, forums, and seminars in clubs, shopping centers, and other entertaining places.