Redesigned education system vital to Middle East’s future prospects
Roughly half of the Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) population is under 24 years of age. This offers a prime opportunity to groom them to be future agents of positive change by empowering them with the knowledge and skills required to make a difference in their communities. Redesigning education systems in the region will ensure it graduates the necessary human capital to secure global competitiveness.
However, education in the region is currently in peril. UNICEF estimates that one in every five children does not attend school, citing that more than 3 million students were forced out of schools due to conflicts and crises. For those who do attend school, international assessments of learning outcomes have recorded that most MENA countries score below average in essential skills for reading, science and mathematics. Consequently, MENA youths (15 to 24 years) are the highest unemployed group in the world, in a region where jobs are not created quickly enough to accommodate this burgeoning segment.
That is why education systems in the region must be redesigned to adapt to modern challenges and a future likely to be fraught with uncertainty and volatility. A strong emphasis must be placed on the individual talents within each student, while a nurturing setting where they can flourish must be provided. It is advisable to introduce futuristic subjects such as coding, artificial intelligence and economics to prepare students for these fields.
Studies show that school libraries are strongly linked to increased graduation rates and mastery of academic subjects. Their presence is certainly game-changing. School libraries should be aesthetically designed in order to lure students in. Collections need to be regularly updated and well-suited to students according to their age. Librarians need to be trained to encourage students’ curiosity. Great library programs also organize regular school book fairs, author talks and reading challenges to keep students engaged throughout the year.
Competent career counselors also play an influential role in shaping students’ decisions regarding their academic journeys and future careers. Students benefit from career counseling by developing their strengths, boosting their morale and carefully planning for their future.
Teachers remain the crux of the education system, as they are the orchestrators of most student learning. Formal qualification requirements must be revised in order to recruit the very best minds with a true passion for educating. Teaching colleges must emphasize esteemed characteristics and novel teaching methods, moving away from rote learning. A universal digital platform containing training and teachers’ resources would be most useful to support continuous improvement in teachers’ skills and knowledge. Compensation must be revisited to attract and retain teachers for the long run.
A variety of scholarships need to be offered to students to expand access to higher education. Vocational education should also be on governments’ agendas, as it enables students to pursue many careers, such as in the culinary arts, industrial design, nursing, construction, retail services, agriculture, and hospitality. By redesigning education systems, we can ensure the coming generations of students are equipped with a suite of cognitive, emotional, social and behavioral skills that will give them the best chance of success in the future labor markets. Ultimately, we wish for every bright student to be a change-maker in our world.