Yes, Gumby, there is an epidemic of educational failure amongst young Qatari males. It is now trying to be addressed by the government but I think it will take a long time to significantly reverse this trend. I think that many young men know that they can find a job, it's not too hard for them to find a job that pays pretty well, considering what qualifications they have. So, for many, they simply don't want to try. Also, their families spoil them with , for example, cars and allowances so they don't know what it feels like to have to earn something. Another point to note is that the banks are literally throwing money at Qataries in the form of loans...many young men are in debt up to their eyeballs. There's a lot of attractive consumer goods out there (vroom, vroom) to be bought.

The difference between Qatari youth and Omani youth is that there aren't enough jobs for the Omanis so competition is present so the work ethic is raised. You will find many Omanis leaving Oman in search of work...even graduates. This is not the case for Qataris.

Now for our young women...yay! I feel so happy for them that recently their world has opened up and the opportunities are now so much greater. Many women are eager to have careers (not just jobs). Go sisters. I cannot tell you how happy and supportive of them I am. I am lucky to have been raised by enlightened parents who instilled in me that education and contribution to society are paramount.

Bear in mind that perhaps ten years os so ago, Qatar was a relatively sleep place compared to the present day. So much business is in Qatar now requiring a much greater workforce with an ever increasing diversity of skills and experience. Unfortunately our education system has not had time to catch up significantly for many of our youth to enter the workforce properly equipped in skills and attitude.

I really think that a combination of factors need to come into play - improved education system, competition for jobs, the safety net being removed of parents bailing their children out and the relative ease of entering the workforce. And perhaps the biggest...accountability of performance and consequences

HH and the government have identified the problem and are actively working on it. However, I do think that it will take a generation or two for significant differences to be evident.

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