A major issue in education starts at the beginning (kindergarten) all the way up to grade 12. Students are often passed along, without having learned the skills and theory needed to continue successfully at a secondary educational level.
They are often taught using the rote method of memorization, rather than learning to think things through and "find" the right answer by applying concepts/ideas/theory in a practical setting.
I have taught recent high school graduates who have taken English and math throughout their academic careers, and some (not all by any means) are incapable of adding two numbers together and getting the same answer twice. Basic multiplication and division is beyond a good many and even trying to apply it in a practical situation -
Ahmed buys a new pair of sandals for $199. Ahmed gives the clerk $500 Riyal note - how much change does Ahmed get back?
Reading might be an issue but even doing a role play where $$ changes hands means Ahmed might get 800 Riyals back or 1 Riyal depending on the mood of the person play acting the clerk (and Ahmed accepts either as being correct).
Like many GCC countries at the K-12 level, teachers are often willing to pass little Ahmed through to graduation in order to keep their job despite the fact Ahmed has not learned all that much that will help him in the workforce. Is it the teachers' fault? To some extent, perhaps. It's complicated especially when families expect Ahmed to move right along and complain when he doesn't.
A major issue in education starts at the beginning (kindergarten) all the way up to grade 12. Students are often passed along, without having learned the skills and theory needed to continue successfully at a secondary educational level.
They are often taught using the rote method of memorization, rather than learning to think things through and "find" the right answer by applying concepts/ideas/theory in a practical setting.
I have taught recent high school graduates who have taken English and math throughout their academic careers, and some (not all by any means) are incapable of adding two numbers together and getting the same answer twice. Basic multiplication and division is beyond a good many and even trying to apply it in a practical situation -
Ahmed buys a new pair of sandals for $199. Ahmed gives the clerk $500 Riyal note - how much change does Ahmed get back?
Reading might be an issue but even doing a role play where $$ changes hands means Ahmed might get 800 Riyals back or 1 Riyal depending on the mood of the person play acting the clerk (and Ahmed accepts either as being correct).
Like many GCC countries at the K-12 level, teachers are often willing to pass little Ahmed through to graduation in order to keep their job despite the fact Ahmed has not learned all that much that will help him in the workforce. Is it the teachers' fault? To some extent, perhaps. It's complicated especially when families expect Ahmed to move right along and complain when he doesn't.