According to the findings of the Arab Youth Survey, public schools in the region have been observed to not equip young Arabs with skills required to meet the challenges of future job market.
Experts responded to the findings of the ninth Arab Youth Survey at a recent panel discussion, pointing out the need for the education systems in the Middle East to improve and identify the causes of the heightening youth unemployment rate.
According to the findings of the Arab Youth Survey, public schools in the region have been observed to not equip young Arabs with skills required to meet the challenges of future job market. Among the 3,500 young people surveyed from across the region, almost half felt that the education system in their countries failed to prepare them adequately for the future job demands.
Below are some of the identified issues by experts at the panel discussion:
- Outdated curriculum. The education curriculum remains unchanged for 40 to 50 years which meant that the younger generation are using the same textbooks as their parents.
- Failure of the governments within the region to manage education effectively.
- Wide disparity in unemployment rate. While there is a low 17 percent women employment rate in Algeria, 55 percent of women are currently employed in Qatar.
- The identified unemployment issue is not just the responsibility of the government, but also that of the private sector and civil society. It is the duty of the society.
- Education sector should put in place education infrastructure that meets the current digital space demands especially with the fast-paced digital space.
- Rise of ISIL. Radicalism rises from a lack of hope and dignity thereby resulting in the rise of unemployment rate among Arab youths. Hence it is something the education system should focus on.
Source: The National