Education in the Muslim world

For my post this week, I would like to comment on the various ways Muslim countries can grow and become part of the "international stage," as posited by Ramadan in our most recent readings.

What various elements can the Muslim states work on in order to grow and flourish? I believe education is foremost among the various reasons listed by Ramadan. Those who receive an education are more likely to stay off the streets, to obtain a job, to stay out of jail - etc, so on. An educated populace is more productive, as a whole. Education, however, is still hard to receive in many Muslim speaking countries. Women, in many places, cannot receive a full education. This, I believe, is a major problem - this leaves almost half of a country's population without an education.

In addition, many people drop out of school early and are left without an education at all. Some who receive an education are merely given a religious education - such as the little boy from the video we watched. He had spent his life memorizing the Qur'an at the expense of the rest of his education - thus, he was practically illiterate.

Of course, this is not the case for all the middle eastern countries or all of the people that live in them. But, I believe, it is a major problem that must be addressed if such countries are to emerge as leaders on an international scale.

Thoughts? What issues do you guys believe are the most important?