Queen Rania urges for better Arab education

Jordan's Queen Rania has urged Arab governments to improve education for young people.

The monarch has written an essay as part of a new United Nations report, 'The Hidden Crisis: Armed Conflict and Education', which outlines the need for a better standard of education.

She highlights how violence and instability denies half a million primary-school-age Iraqi children and around 110,000 Palestinian youngsters access to education.

The queen wrote: "Conflict is as insidious as it is deadly. Not only does it destroy livelihoods today, it destroys livelihoods tomorrow by denying children an education.

"Once back in school, devastating childhood traumas impact their ability to learn and cope with the world. The effects can ripple on for generations - we must address the poverty, social exclusion, and lack of opportunity brought about by conflict."

The global report does, however, highlight an improvement in education across the Arab world, with improved access to school for girls and a reduction in the number of children not getting primary school education from more than nine million in 1999 to around six million in 2008.

The report adds, however, despite some of the world's highest levels of education spending, the number of children out of school in the region is falling too slowly to meet UN targets.

It says another 1.9 million teachers are needed by 2015 to create primary school places for all children.

Queen Rania added: "Bringing education to conflict zones brings hope to millions of children who have never known peace. It brings opportunity to countries that are desperate for growth and prosperity.

"In short, education is our saving grace, our best chance, and our one shot to bring security and development to all humanity."

Poor education systems and especially high rates of youth unemployment have been linked to protests across the Arab world, that have so far toppled the leaders of Egypt and Tunisia.