As per the data published by UNICEF, nearly half of the population in the Middle East and North Africa is aged under 24. One in five people in the region is between 10-24 years old. The people under 25 in the ME region range from 34% in the UAE to 50% in Saudi Arabia. On the flip side, the expat population are also increasing. At present, Dubai projects that its expat population will double by 2030. With such a spectacular, knowledge-hungry young population, the K12 education sector presents tremendous prospects for growth. In fact, educational institutions and investors have been capitalizing on these opportunities, shepherding in an age of development and coalitions.
It is not just the traditional brick-and-mortar schools benefiting from the rising demand for quality education in the Middle East. The pandemic has catalyzed the boom of EdTech and the smart classroom market tremendously. It is expected to grow from USD 3,565 million in 2019 to USD 7,626.1 million by 2027 at a CAGR of 9.8% from 2020 to 2027. The emgergence of innovative startups in this sector also propels the existing market players in this region to constantly focus on improving their offerings by adding advanced features and integrating various technologies. For instance, education technology partners like Edmentum have been a great help for schools that struggled with the unprecedented digital transition of teaching and learning in the Middle East.
To understand the pulse of K12 Education and its aspirations and expectations, we have come up with a special issue that features some insightful articles written by a handful of selected experts in this region. We hope our effort to bring such informative perspectives from academics and industry honchos would equally help parents, school admins, K12 education investors, and operators.
Enjoy Reading.