(MENAFN- Morocco World News) Morocco has ranked second in the Arab Knowledge Index in the Maghreb according to the UNDP Arab Knowledge Index.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) have launched the first edition of the Arab Knowledge Index ranking Morocco second in the Maghreb region. According to the report with an average score of 49.5 percent Morocco ranks slightly behind Tunisia (50). According to the same source Morocco did better than other Maghreb countries and some Arab countries. The index which is a systematic mechanism to monitor the status of knowledge in the Arab countries ranks the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on top in most of the six main indexes (77.59 per cent). It is followed by Qatar and Saudi Arabia with 75.58 percent) and 64.72 percent respectively. Countries like Somalia Syria Comoros Iraq Libya and Yemen got the lowest scores in the index. Morocco scored 58.15 percent in the economy index 45.64 percent in the information and communication technology index 40.80 per cent in the higher education index 50.34 in the pre-university education index 63.69 per cent in technical vocational educational and training index and 39.02 in the research and development index. The Arab Knowledge Index comprises six indexes including the higher education index economy index technical vocational education and training index pre-university education index information and communications technology and research innovation index. In a televised speech on December 7 Ban Ki-moon UN Secretary-General stressed that the Arab region is dire need to 'expand investment quality education and encourage critical thinking and foster dialogue' adding that 'the Arab world has contributed to human progress over many centuries [and] a dynamic vision can advance progress for local innovation scientific research and diversity.' Jamal bin Huwaireb managing director of MBRF said: 'the index has been developed after a year of field research in-depth studies and reviews and a series of workshops conducted in a number of Arab and international countries such as Morocco Jordan the US France and the UK.' Speaking at the opening of the Arab Knowledge Index Dr. Sima Bahouth United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States in the UNDP said the Arab Knowledge Index would serve as a pragmatic tool to establish sustainable development in the region.
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