The newly appointed Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayyeb, is one of the duly respected scholars who combines the privileges of Azharite education and an understanding of western culture as a student of the Sorbonne years ago, while preparing his doctorate. The blend of originality and modernity is therefore expected to be a guiding line for his decisions and plans to restore the prestigious status of Al-Azhar, in its capacity as the oldest seat of Islamic Sunni learning and for upgrading Azharite school and university education. El-Tayyeb is personally aware of the significance of the latter file, which he pledged to open in an early statement following his appointment. Actually, the deteriorating standard of religious-oriented education owing to outdated curricula and lack of finance is no secret. El-Tayyeb also promised to find a solution to Azharite institutions in rural areas, where teaching staff are mostly not up to the requisite standard. Generally speaking, Azharite students often seem to be detached from the mainstream of society, and hence fail to have the influence required of them on the people in, for instance, changing faulty religious concepts. These students' knowledge of foreign languages and of computer systems is much in question, which again prevents them from competent social communication. Only a few of these graduates are capable of addressing the West as enlightened preachers to present a true image of Islam. Their task, in this connection, acquires utmost significance in an age where clashes of civilisations and anti-Islam trends are mounting.
