Ten million Arab children do not go to school, speaker

Speaker of the Moroccan House of Representatives, Abdelouahed Radi, deplored Monday, that "10 million Arab children do not go to school."

Radi who was presenting a report at the Parliament on the millennium development objectives in the Arab states, said that "half Arab women are illiterate and that the rate of women representation in Arab parliaments does not exceed 5 percent."

Social development indicators in the Arab states are "not satisfactory," said Radi, calling for the review of the development strategy in the Arab states.

According to the Moroccan speaker, marginalization, poverty and illiteracy caused social and political tensions in the Arab states, but above all political violence, i.e. extremism.

Radi highlighted the importance of carrying out wealth and job-generating strategic projects to achieve Arab development.

On the nation level, he said, Morocco has made great efforts to eradicate poverty and social marginalization.

He noted that women currently occupy 35 seats in the Moroccan House of Representatives (lower parliament chamber), that is 10 percent of deputies.

As for schooling, Radi noted that the rate of generalizing basic education increased from 52 percent in 1990 to 73 percent in 1998. He added that this rate is expected to reach 100 percent in 2010.

For Radi, a global sustainable development can only be reached through a collective effort of the state, civil society and private sector.