If there was one issue that popped up in virtually every World Economic Forum conference and debate it was education. While more than half of the region’s population is under 25 years of age, nearly all those in attendance agreed that the current level of schooling is extremely poor and in need of a massive and costly overhaul to offer Arab youth a better future. Participants pointed out that skill building in Information Technology and scientific research sectors should be the main focus. “We spend billions on building tall buildings but are not willing to spend billions on education,” said Fadi Ghandour, founder and chief executive officer of Aramex International. “My kids today are reading the same stupid text books I had to read 30 years ago,” said Naguib Sawiris, chairman and CEO of Orascom Telecom. He stressed that better education was essential to create jobs, fight poverty and democratize
