Professor Rafik BeekunUniversity of NevadaThe Islamic Workplace Bloghttp://

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TIMSS or Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (1999, 2003 and 2007)

World Bank’s 2008 MENA Development Report: The Road Not Traveled: Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa

UNESCO Institute for Statistics Intel Science Fair 2009 results.

Brings together best high school students in the world from 9th through 12th grade (about 1,500) from over 30 countries.

$1 million in scholarships, tuition grants, etc. Administered by Society for Science and the

Public since 1950. Incubator for future leading scientists and

engineers and potential Nobel prize winners. Results: no Muslim as the top winner in any

category.

Illiteracy rate and poor standards (World Bank, 2008) Best: Jordan & Kuwait Worst: Djibouti, Yemen, Iraq and Morocco

Study of Arab league: 30% of Arab population are illiterate.

0.3% of GDP of Arab States is devoted to scientific research.

$5-7 per capita is spent on R&D in Arab States. $1000 per capita is spent on R&D in China. 600 research centers in Arab world vs 1500 in

France alone. 30% of scientists in the US are from Arab

countries.

Area 1960 1980 2000

MENA 1.25 3.05 5.39

East Asia 3.44 5.4 7.28

Lat. Amer. 3.87 5.49 7.21

Country Av Test Score GDP/Capita 2003

Secondary Gross Enrollment 2000

Malaysia 514 8,986 70

Lebanon 433 4,793 80

Jordan 426 4,081 87

Iran 420 6,608 77

Tunisia 420 6,765 77

Indonesia 409 3,175 57

Egypt 406 3,731 86

Bahrain 401 17,212 96

Kuwait 392 17,049 89

Morocco 362 3,783 40

Saudi Arabia 332 12,495 72

Int’l Average 489

Top perf countries

617

Country Mean Knowing

Mean Applying

Mean Reasoning

Malaysia 478 476 467

Lebanon 448 464 429

Jordan 422 431 440

Iran 401 403 426

Tunisia 423 420 425

Indonesia 398 396 405

Egypt 393 392 396

Bahrain 402 394 413

Kuwait 361 347 N.A.

Morocco 389 364 383

Saudi Arabia 335 307 N.A.

Turkey 424 439 441

Singapore 593 581 579

United States 502 513 504

Country Mean Knowing

Mean Applying

Mean Reasoning

Malaysia 473 458 487

Lebanon 422 402 420

Jordan 485 490 470

Iran 454 468 461

Tunisia 444 440 455

Indonesia 424 425 438

Egypt 403 434 395

Bahrain 467 468 468

Kuwait 416 429 410

Morocco 399 395 412

Saudi Arabia 403 417 359

Turkey 449 461 462

Singapore 567 553 564

United States 515 512 528

Country Primary Seconday Tertiary

Malaysia 0.94 5.3 32.7

Lebanon 64.7 51.9 49.3

Jordan 29.9 16.6 24.7

Iran 4.3 5.7 54.1

Tunisia 1.0 3.9 0.4

Indonesia 16.3 42.9 65.2

Egypt 8.0 5.5 16.5

Kuwait 32.3 27.6 ___

Morocco 5.5 4.6 5.1

Saudi Arabia 6.9 7.3 7.4

MENA Overall 19.8 13.7 23.6

East Asia 8.2 22.8 52.5

Lat. America 20.8 25.5 49.6

In the case of Saudi Arabia, average student skill during school is low and this has had a significant influence on the caliber of students opting for university. In 2007, an international mathematics and science study (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) of 8th graders revealed that KSA high school students overwhelmingly demonstrated below benchmark levels of skill (little or no skill) in mathematics (82%) and science (48%).

Challenges Rising demand to admit more students Difficulties in meeting outcome quality in relation to

work force needs Difficulties in securing more resources.

Opportunities Missed Centralized Control Privatization of higher education not an option No independent higher education accrediting and

evaluating system Poor treatment of female and expatriate university

faculty.

M/F Primary Enrolment

M/F Secondary Enrolment

M/F Tertiary Enrolment

92% 33% 5%

•% of children completing primary school = 63%

•Literacy rate among youths = 69.2%

•Pupil/teacher ratio = 40

•% of government spending on education = 11.2%

Country Primary Enrolmt

Second Enrolmt

Tertiary Enrolmt

Literacy Youths (%)

Pupil-teacher Ratio

% govt exp on Ed

Pakistan

92 33 5 69.2 40 11.2

Jordan 96 89 40 99 20 20.6

Saudi Arabia

98 94 N.A. 97 11 27.6

Palestine

80** 92 46 99 30 N.A.

MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA : Linkage between education and skills relevant for labor

market is weak vs knowledge economy. Decrease in mortality and increase in life expectancy led

to a population bubble with ½ of arab population now under 30, and system is overloaded.

Quality of education is poor—as shown by TIMSS & PISA Scores—because 1. No culture of assessment and accountability in

education2. Morocco and Egypt have large populations but

relatively low investments in education3. No partnerships with private sector or communities4. Issue of governance and control5. Teaching model is obsolete and elitist with low

flexibility

PAKISTAN Apartheid in the education system Private sector education where English is the

teaching medium and a fee range of Rs 100 to Rs 8000.

Public sector education where schools are lacking because of lack of teachers, and where girls sometimes have no schools (Daily Times, 2004).

Reliance on Madrassas because of messy state school structure.

How can we address this issue?  How do we bring together our best thinkers nationally and internationally to brainstorm and develop a strategic plan?

Should we work with other national Muslim organizations or should we proceed alone?

We cannot address all areas of science and technology.  Where should we focus first for our young students?

What country or countries do we start with first?