Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Abu Dhabi Gallup Center: GCC nationals satisfied with education system; education outcomes behind high-income countries


Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, May 25th 2011 [ME NewsWire]

Eighty seven percent of Bahraini nationals (the highest percentage in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries surveyed) are satisfied with their local education system, according to the latest Abu Dhabi Gallup Center report unveiled at Zayed University today.

The event, held Under the Patronage and in the Presence of H.E. Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of Zayed University, included a discussion forum with Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment, United Arab Emirates, Dr. Naif bin Hashal Alromi, Deputy Minister of Development and Planning, Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh bin Nasser Al-Thani of the Supreme Education Council, Qatar, and ADGC Director and Senior Analyst Dalia Mogahed presenting the report,“Progress and Tradition in the Gulf Cooperation Council States.” The report is supported with Gallup polling data from 2009 and 2010 and provides in-depth analysis, addressing issues ranging from wellbeing and education to family and religion.

The research reveals that despite relatively high public satisfaction with the education sector, education outcomes lag behind other high-income countries, with GCC students testing in the bottom third of all students around the world in math and science. Public demand for education is increasing, however, with attainment levels rising sharply across the GCC for men and women. Ninety-seven percent of 15- to 29-year-old national men in Qatar have completed secondary education or higher, and GCC women are as likely as women in high-income countries to have a tertiary education, with Qatar leading the way (26%).

“The GCC is producing many more high school and college graduates now than it did a generation ago, but these numerical gains haven’t been matched by quality gains,” said Mogahed. “This is a strong indicator that there may not be enough public demand for improvement.”

“The GCC certainly has an opportunity to overtake the rest of the world in providing the best possible education, and I feel that with increased consumption of education, public demand for improvement, and continued investment in world-class minds and facilities, we will progress in the right direction,” Mogahed added.

View the full press release here and the full report here.

Contacts

Johnathan Tozer

+971 50 775 3964

johnathan_tozer@gallup.com

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