One Father`s Vision for Online Learning, One Mother`s Doubts

Ahmed sat at his laptop, bubbling with excitement, in a cozy apartment in Riyadh. Ahmed is an Egyptian resident in Saudi Arabia, who moved several years ago to a better life on Saudi Arabian soil with his family.

Being a tech-savvy engineer, Ahmed was always in pursuit of newer ways to keep himself ahead of the curve. So, when he came across the upswinging trend of online education, Ahmed instantly saw its potential. Most of all, after reading about Flexi Academy Schools, an internationally highly recognized online K-12 school offering personalized education to students all over the world, he felt this might just be it that would make a difference in the life of his two children, Omar and Farah. This, Ahmed felt, was the only way his children could have access to instruction from the best teachers around without being tied to one physical location called a school.

He saw them studying the most advanced topics, attending virtual classes, and acquiring the skills of independent learning that they would have to use in their technology-saturated future.

But his wife, Mona, was less than enthused.

"How can you trust a computer to teach our children properly?"

She asked one evening as she prepared dinner. Born and raised in Egypt, Mona held a deep respect for traditional education. The thought of her kids not attending a brick-and-mortar school filled her with doubt. She wasn`t alone. As many parents throughout the Arab world did, Mona believed education required a physical presence for both teachers and classrooms, and that structured environment a school provided. "They`ll be staring at screens all day. How will they learn discipline?"Ahmed could understand her point, but he was bent on showing Mona the advantages. "It`s not a question of just sitting in front of a screen," he tried to explain. "Flexi Academy has live classes, interactive activities, and regular feedback from teachers. Omar and Farah can socialize with their classmates; as a matter of fact, they can do so differently."Ahmed`s Dream of a Modern EducationFor Ahmed, online education represented the future: a world where knowledge was no longer confined to the four walls of a classroom. Flexi Academy Schools-only known for combining digital innovation with traditional values-seemed perfect to him. "Just look what they offer," he said once that evening as he showed Mona the website. "They have teachers from around the world, and even the kids can take classes in coding, robotics, and other stuff that even regular schools don`t teach."Thus, he envisioned Omar, their ten-year-old son, to be a whiz at coding, Farah, their eight-year-old daughter, working her way in science with advanced programs in STEM. To him, this was more than just school-it was a passport to the future.But academics were not all that bothered Mona. "And what about their friends?" she asked. "They need to interact with other kids, not only through a screen."Ahmed was aware of this.

Interaction with others was crucial for any child, as seen in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, where the system was close-knit, with families and friendships playing a major role. Nonetheless, he knew that the pros outweighed the cons where online learning was concerned, even more so in the case of personalized education provided by Flexi Academy Schools.Mona`s Hesitation: A Mother`s Doubts But all this enthusiasm from Ahmed failed to dispel the misgivings of Mona.

She grew up in a world where school was a place of strict discipline, and teachers didn`t just teach but also inculcated behavior among their students. How could a computer do such a thing?

"How will they not get distracted?" she asked. "There is nobody to keep an eye on them."

She was not in this alone, as many parents in the Middle East saw face-to-face teaching as a core of the culture. Mona saw school as something more than learning itself; it was character building, instilling discipline, and community. The first weeks of learning proved to be challenging to the whole family. Omar and Farah were having a hard time getting adjusted. They missed their friends, and with no rigid schedule, it was hard to keep their noses to the grindstone. Of course, all this seemed to validate Mona`s apprehensions. "I knew this wouldn`t work," she told Ahmed. "They`re just not motivated. They need the routine of school."Ahmed soon began to question everything, too, but he did not give up; instead, he instigated changes in their methods. "Let`s do something different," he said. "We can make a schedule in the house, like the regular day in school, breaks, and time for interaction."The Family`s Balance: The JourneyTogether, they rearranged their days. Ahmed made sure Omar and Farah had a quiet study area with minimal distractions. Mona helped them come up with a routine that included morning lessons through Flexi Academy, breaks for physical activities, and time to socialize with friends whether through physical or virtual meetups.With time, they could see an improvement every passing day. Omar, once thought of as the shy one, did well in his coding class. He loved their interactive lessons and even began working on small projects of his own. "Mom, look!" he exclaimed one afternoon with pride. "I made my own game!"Farah was starting to relish the new format, too. Loving her science lessons, she would watch videos on space explorations by the hour because she found the concept of galaxies so fascinatingly far away. "I never knew this could be any fun," she told Mona one day.And then, as Mona saw the progress of her children, she began softening. Online learning wasn`t just sitting in front of a screen; it was giving them the tools to go out into the world at a pace, through material that would be self-directed. "Maybe this can work after all," she granted Ahmed.The Role of Flexi Academy: A Turning PointWhat made a difference for the family was structure and support given to them by Flexi Academy Schools: personal attention by teachers, engaging content, and the ability to track their children`s progress.

Mona was reassured that her children were getting a quality education.

"The teachers really care," she said. "And the kids are learning in ways I never imagined."

Ahmed smiled, feeling finally that his vision was piecing together. "This is what I`ve been saying all along," he said. "It`s not just about replacing the classroom. It`s about expanding it. The future of education is flexible, and with the right support, we can prepare Omar and Farah for a world that`s in constant motion."Mona nodded in agreement. "I can see that now. But we have to be involved, too. We can`t just leave them to it; we have to guide them and ensure they stay on track."A New Way Forward: Advice for ParentsWith time, a balance came about between the use of online and offline activities, introducing social interactions and physical play to complement the academic rigor at Flexi Academy. Soon, Mona became an outspoken advocate of structured online learning, knowing well that this was not only an issue of the right platform, but also one of parental involvement. "We have to be there for them," she said in a circle of mothers over coffee. "Online learning works, but it requires discipline and family support."The trip was confirmation for Ahmed on his belief in the future of education.

"Flexi Academy has given our children an opportunity to progress at their own individual pace, deepen their understanding of subjects that inspire them, and build the necessary skill sets that will support them throughout the digital age."

Their story reflects that of many families across the Arab world, for whom online education was met with resistance but is increasingly considered one of the options for the future. The correct mindset and structure, along with schools like Flexi Academy that offer support, mean such a leap into online learning isn`t necessarily a leap into the unknown; it could be through the gates to a brighter, more flexible future.