Economic Boom Does Not Foster 21st Century Skills

Reuters AlertNet - Riyadh is boom town as Saudis enjoy oil bonanza

The education system continues to produce citizens well-versed in religious tradition but lacking good English, incapable of competing in today's globalised job market. Major firms like Saudi Aramco reeducate graduate hires abroad.

The promise of an economic boom does not always lead to the needed changes in education or help to change the mindset of a people. This story indicates the recent boom in Saudi Arabia due to $100 a barrel oil fosters complacency and sloth. Compare Saudi Arabia with Uruguay, a recent recipient of the OLPC XO. Uruguay does not have $100 a barrel oil to provide an opportunity for its people to connect to the 21st century world. Radical changes are the things they can control will have to be done in order to come into the 21st century world, in this case education.

Of course, there are other things at play in Saudi Arabia that keep major change in mindset from happening, and to take a Western Civilization filter and examine Saudi Arabia only increases confusion. When the price of a barrel of oil collapses, and it will, where will an undereducated populace, like Saudi Arabia, where the disparity between rich and poor is great, be?

Update: Tremendous comment discussion between Tom Hoffman and I. Thanks Tom for the running comments.