In the Arab States globalization and economic development have had a significant effect on
education. Serious concerns have been expressed over the state of education in the Arab world.
Even in the oil-rich Gulf States with over 200 higher education institutions education is
problematic with a notable lack of emphasis on specialized science and innovative learning. The
Gulf States are in a race to become 'knowledge economies' and as a result they are promoting
educational reforms such as the application of bilingual education models and curricula adopted
from the West. This book provides a collection of studies on the state of education in Arab
countries with a special focus on the Arabian Gulf where currently there is increased activity
and investment in education. The book is composed of three major sections. The first section is
a collection of nine papers on current practices and challenges in education in the Arab world.
The second major section is devoted to the educational reforms that are being implemented in
the Arabian Gulf. The third and final section is a collection of papers describing new
approaches to teaching and learning in the Arab world.
