Urbanization and Women’s Access to Tertiary Education: Case of 11 Middle East Countries

Abstract

This paper discusses the causal relationship between urbanization and women’s access to tertiary education in 11 Middle East countries.The study obtained and analyzed data from the world bank 2018 database.The study applied a multiple linear regression for one dependent variable (School enrollment, tertiary, female (% gross)) and two independent variables (Urban population (% of total population)) & GDP per capita (current US$)) over a period of 45 years.The study assesses a positive impact of both urbanization and GDP per capita on women access to tertiary education in the sample countries, where urbanization impact is even stronger than that of the GDP per capita. In the countries that have a big share of the rural population, women access to tertiary education is still less than what it should be.In areas where female education is low(like in Yemen), there is a need to create awareness about the importance of female higher education. Also, to provide rural communities with decent academic facilities and infrastructures to ease women access to tertiary education. Moreover, to provide women from rural and remote communities with scholarships and female-only safe and cheap dormitories in case they move to study in faraway urban areas. This can promote equal access to tertiary education between rural and urban women, and improve their status and the economic growth in their countries.