The World Government Summit 2017 exhorted governments to cooperate with private companies to build a modern education system and focus on early education.

During a session on the role of governments in building a modern educational system, Safaa Kogali, the Sector Leader for Caribbean and Haiti within the World Bank's Human Development Department, said education represents a top priority to the World Bank and it always encourages governments to play a key role in setting educational bases through cooperation with private associations.

She said education in the Arab world faces many hurdles, topped by lack of security and stability, dwindling educational level in remote areas and the wide gap between private and public schools.

She urged Middle East and North African governments to improve education available for all people, highlighting the importance of investment in early education.

Ex-Jordanian education minister Mohamed Zunaibat highlighted the importance of early education, noting that most of Arab states spend only 13 percent of their budgets on education and this represents a major snag.

Former Finnish education minister Krista Katriina Kiuru said one of the key elements for the success of the Finnish educational experiment is teaching educational subjects in early age through playing and honing children's skills.

She underlined the importance of building children's confidence and nurturing their talents.

Source: MENA