School Market in Middle East and North Africa
Growing private schools enrolment, expected to double over the next decade to over 2.5 million, will spur investments in education, according to a report which Booz & Company will launch at Building Future Education MENA 2011.
The private school market is growing rapidly in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), presenting a significant opportunity for investors and school operators.
With K-12 combined public and private education spending in the GCC expected to increase from approximately $36 billion in 2010 to over $60 billion in 2020, the private sector, along with the public sector, can play a crucial role in the education reforms of the region by providing innovative and cost-effective models.
This and other findings on the growth potential of private school education in the GCC will be introduced by Booz & Company at the Building Future Education (BFE) MENA (Middle East and North Africa) exhibition and conference in partnership with Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) on October 25 and 26, 2011 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
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Increased private school spending, which comprises 15-20 percent of total spending in the GCC education market, is sorely needed as the number of students in private schools is expected to double over the next decade to exceed 2.5 million owing to a combination of demographic factors, parental preferences and recent regulatory change.
“However, in order to capitalise on this opportunity, the region must overcome several key challenges, including constraints on financing new schools in the region, fragmented ownership structures that offer few economies of scale, lack of information for parents regarding school quality, and inconsistent application of regulations,” said Chadi N. Moujaes, partner at management consulting firm Booz & Company.
The main conference will bring together those at the forefront of education from ministries, institutions, operators, architects and investors. The conference features in-depth panel discussions, based around specific research studies from BFE MENA’s Knowledge Partners Booz & Company, Parthenon and RAND Qatar Policy Institute (RQPI), assessing the education market in the GCC and areas of potential investment.
The conference will also cover key topics such as world-class facilities and learning environments, curriculum and school improvement, quality assurance, special education needs and sustainable education facilities.
Visitors can register now free at http://www.buildingfutureeducationmena.com. Building Future Education MENA will also have strong representation from the MENA region’s education ministries and councils including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Jordon and Lebanon.
Photo courtesy: BFE MENA
