Education in ME & NA

Kinds of Education On ‑ the ‑ job training Technical and vocational training Formal education at the elementary, secondary, and higher levels Adult education; extension programs in agriculture Migration: internal (rural ‑ urban and urban ‑ urban) and external (the brain drain)

Educational Expenditures Educational expenditures as a proportion of the GDP has nearly double in ME & NA between 1970 and 1990 (e.g., Jordan, Saudi Arabia

Enrollment Growth Enrollment ratios have substantially increased in many countries in all levels of education (primary, secondary, and tertiary) Still secondary and tertiary enrollment ratios are not high enough (e.g., less than 80% in secondary and less than 15% in tertiary)

Science Education The educational system is biased toward liberal arts at the expense of sciences. Enrollment ratios in sciences is less than 40% As a result many students go abroad to gain science education (e.g., engineering). Nearly 20% of high school and college graduates study abroad

Educational Problems Shortage of qualified teachers and administrators and textbooks Lack of emphasis on critical thinking and analytical skills development Cultural and political resistance to education because it creates new values, and expectations Unfavorable attitude toward female education and participation

Educational Problems Creation of "educated" unemployment and underemployment due to limited labor absorptive capacity of the economy Expansion of urban open unemployment through rural ‑ urban and urban ‑ urban migration Increased income inequality since higher education is generally available to the already affluent people Inability to accommodate foreign educated professionals, contributing to the brain drain