[...]... has not been bridged, and the quality of education continues to be disappointing Also, the region has not yet caught up with the rest of the world in terms of adult literacy rates and the average years of schooling in the population aged 15 and above Despite considerable growth in the level of educational attainment, there continues to be an education gap” with other regions, in absolute terms In addition,... a rapid increase in life expectancy The World Bank is proud of being a partner of the region over the course of this impressive evolution Notwithstanding these successes and the considerable resources invested in education reforms have not fully delivered on their promises In particular, the relationship between education and economic growth has remained weak, the divide between education and employment... have not generated the maximum benefits to individuals and society Thus, the case for education reform is compelling This case is further reinforced by the lack of readiness of most education systems in the region to deal with globalization and the increasing emphasis on knowledge in the development process, the region’s enormous youth bulge, and the additional financial resources required to expand... The Road Not Traveled This report focuses on the economic rather than the social and cultural dimensions of education Its approach in answering the questions raised above is analytical and comparative in nature Education outcomes in the region are compared with education outcomes in other developing countries The development impact of investment in education is considered in the context of the large body... healthier and better-educated children, and stronger national identity Not surprisingly, most developing countries, including those in the MENA region, have committed substantial resources over the last 40 years to expand and improve their education systems Attaining the above benefits from investing in human capital through education is not automatic, however All too often, higher investment in education. .. capita income As a result, the region was able to improve access to education at all levels of instruction for boys and girls at rates not previously seen in the developing world The main shortcoming of past efforts lies in the weak link between the improvements in the level, quality, and distribution of human capital and economic growth, income distribution, and poverty reduction Past investments in education. .. Foreword Education is at the crossroads for the future of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) It plays a crucial role in promoting poverty alleviation and economic growth, both at national and at household levels It reflects the aspirations of the people for a successful integration into the global economy in an ever changing world Various stakeholders in the region regard education as their most... pulls all of the pieces together Primary Findings The main finding of this report is that the MENA region has made significant strides in the education sector, having started in the 1960s and 1970s from very low levels of human capital accumulation However, it has not capitalized fully on past investments in education, let alone developed education systems capable of meeting new challenges The education. .. implemented hand -in- hand with those for the education system proper Having succeeded in expanding the education systems to include most eligible children—boys and girls the MENA region is now ready to travel a new road While the exact configuration of this new road will not be the same for each country, all countries, irrespective of their initial conditions, will require a shift from “engineering inputs”... education process itself; the other feature concerns closing the gap between the supply of educated individuals and labor demand, both internally and externally A brief summary of the primary findings is presented in the following paragraphs Despite MENA’s Heavy Investment in Education, Economic Returns Were Modest Part I of the report shows that the region invested about 5 percent of GDP and 20 percent of . h1" alt="" Washington, D.C. The Road Not Traveled Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa MENA DEVELOPMENT REPORT ©2008 The International. 1 P ART IINTRODUCTION 7 Chapter 1: Investment in Education 9 Investment in Education and the Level of Human Capital 9 Investment in Education and the Quality