Month: February 2008

World Bank Report On Education In The Arab World

Interesting and important report from the World Bank on education in the Arab world…

The World Bank has said the quality of education in the Arab world is falling behind other regions and needs urgent reform if it is to tackle unemployment.

[…]

It said that although education was becoming more accessible and the gender gap was being reduced, the region had not witnessed the positive changes seen in Asia and Latin America, particularly in literacy rates and enrolments in secondary schools and universities.

[…]

The report said unemployment in the Arab world averaged 14%, which is higher than other areas in the world, except Sub-Saharan Africa, with the Palestinian territories coming highest with nearly 26% percent.

[…]

The report concluded that Jordan and Kuwait were the top educational reformers in the region, while Djibouti, Yemen, Iraq and Morocco ranked lowest in terms of access, efficiency and quality of education.

Another study carried out in January by the Tunis-based Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organisation found that 30% of the approximately 300 million people in the Arab World were illiterate.

[Full Report: World Bank Report]
[Source: BBC News]

I think it’s obvious that education should be the number one priority on every Arab country’s agenda, because without it, we’re really going nowhere.

How accessible education is and how many people make it into schools is very important of course, but it’s only the first step, the even bigger step is to have quality: a well built and structured curriculum, a highly qualified teaching staff, well-equipped schools and classrooms, more resources for the students …etc.

I think that in many Arab countries we’ve made big strides in reducing illiteracy and putting the necessary laws and procedures in place to get children to schools, but we still have a lot of work to do on pedagogy, curriculums, environment and more.

Our whole future lies in how well educated our future generations are; That’s how important education is.

[Via: The Black Iris]

Bled El Ward, A New $10 Billion Emirati Project In Tunisia

Bled El WardEmirati Al Maabar International Investments Company recently announced its plans to build one of its biggest projects in the African Continent. This project is ‘Bled El Ward’ (City Of Roses) on the northern rives of the capital Tunis, in Ariana, on a total area of 5 Thousands Hectares, with a total cost that reaches $10 Billion.

The project will result in the construction of a modern city made up with many components such as the International Health city, water channels in addition to tourist resorts, residencies, sport facilities, Golf fields, and areas for shopping, entertainments and open space.

The project derives its name from the old name of the Tunisian city, Ariana, which is known for its beautiful roses and flowers and its soft breeze.

Its design gets its name from the old architecture history. It is based on the most modernized architecture styles. Furthermore, it gives priority to the environment and nature as whole, with its sea and forests sides. It also provides 50 Km of beaches through its water channels.

The realisation of ‘Bled El Ward’ project will be on many phases. The first is ‘Diar El Fel’ zone that covers 300 hectares, 190 Hectares will be devoted to building. The development period of this project will be 5 years.

Personally, I think it is great that more Emirati companies and businesses are investing in Tunisia, it’s great for the economy, for creating jobs, for modernizing our cities and above all it’s a great example of how we as Arabs can work and succeed together when we really want to.

[Sources: ArabianBusiness, Seoul Times, WebManagerCenter (FR)]

Israel To Demolish Historic Mosque Near Jerusalem

The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Sheikh Muhammad Hussein has condemned a decision by Israeli authorities to demolish the Al-Omari mosque in the village of Umm Tuba near Jerusalem under the pretext that the building had been built without a license…

Sheikh Hussein told Ma’an that the mosque was built more than 700 years go, and it was last restored in 1963. It is the only mosque in Umm Tuba.

The Mufti claimed that Israeli authorities have been attempting to wipe out historic Islamic sites in Palestine which is violation of all religious values and international treaties.

He warned of the repercussions and called on the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which is charged with protecting human cultural heritage around the world, and other international organizations to prevent the demolition of the mosque.

[Source: Ma’an News]

Does anyone really have to comment on this?
Don’t acts like this just obviously show how much Israel wants Peace?
It’s pure ill-willed provocation that is destined to fuel even more conflict and close the doors in front of any possible peace efforts.
And then everyone turns around and blames the Palestinians for not pursuing peace.

[Via: CCNWON]

Atonement, The Movie

Last night, I got to watch “Atonement“, a movie featuring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, based on the book by Ian McEwan, and directed by Joe Wright.

I read the book a few years ago, and truly enjoyed it a lot, really great book.
Needless to say: the book is a lot better than the movie; but well that’s always the case; still this is a very good movie, worth watching, especially if you’ve read the book.

The movie is nominated for 7 Oscars this year; of which there is a ‘Best Motion Picture of the Year’ nomination.

The story follows a 13 year old girl (Briony) who lets her imagination overwhelm her judgment leading to close family ties being irreparably severed, and a promising young man’s (Robbie) prospects being destroyed; as Briony grows up she comes to grasp the reality of what she did and struggles to atone for her acts.

The acting is very good, and so is the soundtrack, the directing and photography, and the way the story is presented and told. There were details and events that were omitted, as usual in movie adaptations of books, but overall it turned out good enough.
One important thing though is that throughout the movie I found myself thinking a number of times how great the book is and that I might just go back and read it again.

So finally, check out the movie, but you definitely have to read the book.
Check my review of the book here.

Microsoft Offers $44.6B for Yahoo

WOW…

Microsoft Corp. has pounced on slumping Internet icon Yahoo Inc. with an unsolicited takeover offer of $44.6 billion in its boldest bid yet to challenge Google Inc.’s dominance of the lucrative online search and advertising markets.

The surprise offer of $31 per share, made late Thursday and announced Friday, comes with Sunnyvale-based Yahoo in a vulnerable position.

In a statement Friday, Yahoo said it will “carefully and promptly” study Microsoft’s bid.

[…]

In a letter to Yahoo’s board of directors, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer indicated the world’s largest software maker is determined to bring the two companies together.

To underscore its resolve, Microsoft is offering a 62 percent premium to Yahoo’s closing stock price Thursday.

[Source: Yahoo News]

Rumors have been going around for quite some time now that Microsoft would eventually attempt to buy Yahoo, and now they have come true.

If Yahoo shareholders decide to sell, what would it mean for the Internet?
Would it make the companies’ combined portfolios better suited to take on Google?
What would happen to all the different Yahoo services? Especially if they have existing competing Microsoft services? It’d certainly be a shame to see services like Flickr or Delicious take a down turn because of this.
Many questions, and still too early to know for sure what the answers are.

Personally, I would prefer for this deal not to happen, because the way things are now allows for more competition and more creativity. Anyway, even if the deal goes through, I’m not sure it will change much in Microsoft’s position against Google, especially if they start trying to take Yahoo the Microsoft way and start MS’ing their products and services and badly re-branding them.

If the deal goes through, what I think they should do is leave Yahoo a lot of its independence and spirit, not change the product/service names, drop MSN altogether and study quantitatively and qualitatively competing products in the portfolio to take decisions on which to integrate everything into as a brand.

Anyway, I guess we’ll just wait and see how all this plays out. But it has the potential to change a big part of the geography of the online world.