Literacy rates in the Arab world remain below the minimum average of 95 percent in the developed nations, despite several countries notching up increasingly high literacy statistics, according to Madar Research.
However, according to a recent survey, with 10 Arab countries falling within the 70 percent to 90 percent literacy category, the consistent efforts by regional governments to boost literacy have had a positive impact.
In the Levant region, Jordan has the highest literacy rate at 89.7 percent. Lebanon is placed second with 86 percent. Among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Bahrain has the highest literacy rate at 87.6 percent, followed by Kuwait at 82 percent, Qatar at 80.8 percent, Saudi Arabia at 76.1 percent and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 75.1 percent.
However, as in Lebanon, the UAE has established a good network of academic institutions. With increasing investment in the development of academic centers such as Dubai Knowledge Village, and the new medical college at Dubai Health Care City, as well as a consistent focus on high quality professional education for UAE nationals, the education sector in the country is set to grow manifold.
The three pronged strategy of regional governments, which includes inviting the best global education providers to set up facilities in the region, the development of home-grown centers of academic excellence and the consistent government sponsored literacy awareness drive, will all be featured at the 16th Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETX) to be held from April 20 to 23, 2004 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre. — (menareport.com)
© 2004 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
