Doha: A declining number of young people in the Arab world plan to pursue further education with many citing cost as the single biggest factor holding them back but youth are optimistic about their future careers, according to findings of the 6th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey.
Nearly half (46 percent) of 18-24 year old Arab nationals are planning to study for a Bachelor’s, Master’s or a PhD or go onto vocational training, falling from 55 percent in 2013 and 56 per cent in 2012. Plans to pursue further education are evenly split across the Arab world, with 45 percent in the GCC countries saying they plan to go onto university or vocational training compared to 47 percent in the non-GCC countries.
Meanwhile, a quarter (24 per cent) of youth across the 16 countries polled say they do not plan to go to further their education, compared to one in five (20 per cent) in 2013. One third (33 per cent) of this sample cite financial factors as the biggest reason for them not pursing further education while just over a quarter (27 per cent) did not name a specific reason. Not having the relevant courses available to them is the third biggest hurdle (18 percent) followed by the quality of teaching (16 per cent).
The Arab Youth Survey is an annual initiative of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, the leading public relations consultancy in Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The Peninsula
