Judith Cochran – författare

Egyptian education is a central, social and economic force in the Middle East. For hundreds of years Al Azhar University has been the centre of Islamic thinking and education. More recently Egypt became the leader in secular education as Mohammed Ali established the first medical, veterinarian, engineering and accounting schools in the Middle East. Nasser expanded Egyptian educational leadership by providing free education for Muslem students from neighbouring countries. The extensive exportation of Egyptian educators to initiate and educate in schools and universities throughout the Arab speaking world has shaped the secular and religious leaders of those countries. This book traces the history of Egyptian education over the last hundred years and highlights the key factors which have given Egyptian education its particular quality and influence within the Arab world.First published 1986.

Egypt is known for its educational influence over other civilizations and countries. As one of the earliest creators of systems of literacy, mathematics, astronomy, engineering, and science, Egyptians led much of the world in acquiring and applying their knowledge throughout their 5,500 years of recorded history. Egyptian education figured prominently in the formation and spread of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim religions. Modern Egypt is the most populous Arab state and has continued to lead the region in education, literature, music, architecture, cinema, radio, and television. There are few middle Eastern political issues—from the War on Terrorism to the Palestinian Israeli conflict—that can be discussed without involving the impact of Egyptian education and its leadership. Contemporary Egypt and its connections to antiquity are not always well understood. Educational Roots of Political Crisis in Egypt explores Egypt's political, economic, social, and cultural leadership from the remarkable civilization of the past to the unique socialistic/capitalistic educational conglomerate of today. Cochran details the outcomes of over thirty years of enormous foreign aid allocated to education, particularly from the World Bank and the United States, in never before documented descriptions. Foreign and Egyptian development of education enables readers familiar with some aspects of politics of the Middle East to make predictions about the future.

Income inequality throughout the Middle East is best addressed through effective education. In our highly technological, globalized economy, people without education will not be able to improve their economic situations. The interaction among religions, education and political control in contemporary Middle East is profiled through interviews with media, political, religious and educational leaders along with classroom observations and competency measures of graduates. This never-before documentary is important for those who have a vested interest in the economic and social health of the Middle East.Without a strong educated citizenry, the democratic future of any country is in jeopardy. Beginning with a history of religious education through to contemporary institutions enables readers to understand existing conditions throughout the Middle East. Ancient Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions expand their impact through the control of their religious and educational systems. Initially training judges, religious leaders and converts, religious schools became the bedrock of education throughout the region. Building on interlocking monotheistic religious histories, this work demonstrates how political forces unknowingly began to build elements of democracy through increasing access to education and technology, secularizing content, and allowing ethnic communities to control their believers through religious education of their leaders.Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Jordan and Egypt are then profiled according to the development of aspects of democracy: increasing access to education, enjoyment of basic freedoms, justice, dignity of self, and the right for all to be free of discrimination. Lebanon supports freedom of choice for citizens as most parents can and do choose to educate their children in a plethora of private rather than government schools. Syria, recognizing the importance of education, provides education for all including Iraqi, Afghani and Palestinian refugees at a great cost to its own citizens. Jordan favors university access for rural, royal, and Arab Jordanians, particularly from less academically strong schools, and limits access for qualified Palestinians. This book provides insights from researchers, interviews with students, teachers, administrators and classroom observations in private, public and refugee camp schools. Political, social and media leaders discuss the status of education and religion in their countries. Furthermore, the competencies of graduating students indicate the developing intellectual and technological force of youth in the Middle East. These are the students who are becoming the basis of the economic, religious and democratic future of the region.