When British Prime Minister Tony Blair swept to power in 1997 his promised top three priorities for the country were: "Education, education, and education."Billions of pounds have been invested in education during the ten years he has been in office, and the landscape of British schools is being transformed.Blair's priorities were so clear because he recognised that the economic competitiveness of the country would be secured if its young people were given the best start in life.
The Middle East has much to learn from Blair's Britain. According to a recent World Economic Forum report the education system across much of this region is not fit for the challenges of the modern world. In short, it is not fit for purpose. It is revealing that even in Dubai, the trailblazer for modernisation in the GCC, education has barely hit the agenda - until this year. Led as ever by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, things are changing. Sheikh Mohammed announced in May a $10 billion Foundation charged with promoting human development by investing in education and the development of knowledge in the region.One of Sheikh Mohammed's most trusted lieutenants, Tatweer Chairman Saeed Muntafiq, is equally passionate about raising education standards. "The curriculum at school has to go though a revolution," Muntafiq, who is also Chairman of the Young Arab Leaders think tank. Ironically, the best education in the Gulf is found at expatriate schools where American, European and Indian curriculums borrow best practices from their home countries, and sky-high fees ensure small classes and high quality teaching. Private education with fees of SAR80,000 per year is not going to solve the problems of Arab youths, particularly in Saudi Arabia, who have no option other than to rely on the State for schooling. Governments must therefore show genuine leadership in reforming, building and running a school system that presently lets its children down. Spending in the UK per pupil currently stands at £5000 ($10,000) per year. That will increase to £8000 ($16,000) per year, according to incoming Prime Minister Gordon Brown.This is the price of putting children first in society - and a price that governments in the GCC must be prepared to match or lose ground to the world's developed nations. Source
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