Libya's population includes 1.7 million
students, over 270,000 of whom study at the tertiary level. Education
in Libya is free for all citizens, and compulsory up until secondary
level. The literacy rate is the highest in North Africa; over 82%
of the population can read and write.
After Libya's independence in 1951,
its first university, the University of Libya, was established in
Benghazi in 1955. This was followed by universities in Tripoli, Mersa
Brega, and Sabha. All schooling, including that at the university
level, is free. This includes books, school supplies, uniforms, and
meals. Today, about 90 percent of Libyans are literate.
After the discovery of oil in 1959,
Libya invested in new schools, vocational training centers, and universities.Libya
now uses a Western-style education system that includes six years
of primary school, three years of preparatory school, and three years
of secondary school. Schooling is required for both boys and girls
until the age of fifteen. After completion of secondary school, Libyans
may attend either vocational schools or universities.
In academic year 1975/76 the number
of university students was estimated to be 13,418. As of 2004, this
number has increased to more than 200,000, with an extra 70,000 enrolled
in the higher technical and vocational sector. The rapid increase
in the number of students in the higher education sector has been
mirrored by an increase in the number of institutions of higher education.
Since 1975 the number of universities has grown from two to nine and
after their introduction in 1980, the number of higher technical and
vocational institutes currently stands at 84 (with 12 public universities).
Libya's higher education is financed by the public budget. In 1998
the budget allocated for education represented 38.2% of the national
budget.
The main universities in Libya are:
• Al Fateh University (Tripoli)
• Garyounis University (Benghazi)
Ten new universities open Libya up
to the West. More than a decade of experience in masterplanning
universities and colleges helped us win this contract. Around 60
BDP staff across 11 disciplines are collaborating to design universities
in the Sahara Desert, in the mountains and on the coast. The schemes
are being designed entirely around local settings, microclimate
and culture, while conforming to an over-arching academic plan.
Eighteen faculty types — covering all Engineering, Humanities and
Health Sciences sectors — will accommodate 38,000 students and there
will be 15,000 student residential and 600 staff units.
