Higher Education - the future of North Africa

Through the Arab Maghreb Union  intergovernmental and educational authorities have been working to standardise degrees and the quality of education.There is a general awareness that degrees need to qualify graduates for jobs because too many are unemployed and indeed -employers say unemployable.Schools in Morocco, where only 13 per cent of students graduate and more than 400,000 drop out each year.The BBC carries a video on its  website (see also on NAU) "Morocco struggles with unemployment"  examining this problem.

 Mohammed Abbad Andaloussi is a social entrepreneur  in Morocco and recipient of the Clinton Global Citizen Award takes part in the BBC video .He is the Director for Injaz Al Maghrib part of the Injaz al Arab organisation in the MENA Region which fosters collaborations between private businesses, the government, and the school system.

 "Injaz Al Arab" is part of the international organization Junior Achievement Worldwide active in 129 countries, reaching nearly 9 million students. Several countries in North Africa and the Middle East are benefiting from this project.This is an educational program that offers students aged 16-17 the opportunity to create and manage their own junior company.

Mohammed Abbad Andaloussi believes that business should have close contacts with educational establishements  for it is a fact that education systems  including universities and technical colleges worldwide are failing to provide students with career relevant training.Many young people have no idea what they would like to pursue as a career and they need help, encouragement and guidance.  

A conference on "The Future of Higher Education in the MENA Region" is being held by the British Council, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Higher Education & Scientific Research, ISESCO and the African Development Bank in Mohammedia and one of the subjects under discussion is to place at the centre of national and regional strategies employment of graduates and students and employability in MENA – fitting students for the changing job market.

This is actually a global problem if one looks at the UK or Europe, young people are finding it impossible to be considered for a job. This is a result of economic recession but it has been a problem for a very long time. The fact is that the world of study and education has been removed from the realities of the work place for far too long. This is despite large sums being spent on education and real government efforts. The needs and aspirations of the young people of North Africa, who are its future are at stake.