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The Road Not Traveled
TABLE 6.1
Engineering Features of the Education Systems in Selected MENA Countries Country
Pedagogy
Teaching capacity
Structure and flow
Resource mobilization
Jordan Kuwait Tunisia Lebanon Iran, Islamic Rep. of Egypt, Arab Rep. of West Bank and Gaza Algeria Syrian Arab Rep. Saudi Arabia
䊉
䊉
䊉
䊉
䊊
䊉
䊉
䊉
䊉
䊊
䊋
䊊
䊉
䊊
䊊
䊉
䊋
䊉
䊉
䊉
䊋
䊊
䊊
䊋
䊊*
䊊
䊉
䊉
䊊
䊉
䊊
䊊
䊊
䊋
䊊
䊊
䊊
䊋
䊊
䊊
Morocco Iraq Yemen, Rep. of Djibouti
䊊*
N/A
䊉
䊊
䊊
䊉
䊊
䊊
䊊
䊊
䊋
䊊
䊊
䊋
䊉
䊋
Source: Education Reform Database. Note: 䊉 = high, 䊋 = medium, 䊊 = low, * administered since 2003, N/A = not available.
countries in the middle tend to exhibit mixed features. This conclusion suggests that better-engineered education systems are capable of producing relatively better education outcomes. Pedagogy. The recent pedagogical approach in primary and secondary schools emphasizes: (i) inquiry-based learning, privileging skills acquisition to rote memorization; (ii) student-based learning, ensuring greater success for all students enrolled, with greater individualized instruction; (iii) multiple-chance learning, allowing students to continue to pursue their education, with possibilities of transferring between programs; and (iv) emphasis on technology, science, and foreign languages. The question is whether the better performers in our sample of MENA countries adopted these recommended practices, while the least performers did not. On the basis of available information, the answer seems to be yes. Jordan, Tunisia, and Lebanon have gone the furthest in student-centered pedagogy, while Morocco, Iraq, Yemen, and Djibouti have not even begun the process. The better-performing countries have officially engaged in a pedagogical reform effort that was inspired by recent international trends. They have adopted pedagogical innovations in their curriculum and textbooks; in their in-service teacher training; and in equipping schools with Internet connections and computers. Some countries in the middle also initiated similar pedagogical reforms, such as Iran and the Arab Republic of Egypt, as illustrated in box 6.1.