Societal Context of Education

Education is influenced by its societal context notably demography, politics, economy and culture. The chapter examines these factors in 13 Middle Eastern countries from 2011 to 2019, the years that correspond to TIMSS test dates. Countries vary in their demographic characteristics-population size, growth, and age structure-which have implications for the economy and for education as population size and structure determine the number of K-12 students and impact the structure of education systems. The politics of the region is generally authoritarian, creating authoritarian education systems that lack accountability and transparency in most countries. There are substantial variations in economic features among countries in terms of GDP per capita, youth unemployment, governments’ expenditure on education, and the role of the public and private sectors. Variations also exist in student enrolment rates in primary and secondary schools. The Middle East includes four main cultures: Arab, Turkish, Persian, and Hebrew. These cultures embrace three major world religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Each of the cultures and religions has valued learning and knowledge in the past and the present times and has played important roles in educating youth and in developing education systems in the region.