The World Bank ranked Jordan and Kuwait as top educational reformers in the Arab world, according to a report released by the organization in Amman on Monday.

The report, titled "The Road Not Traveled: Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa," said Jordan and Kuwait are "top performers" in terms of access, efficiency and quality of education.

Egypt, Iran, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories were ranked average in the study, while Djibouti, Yemen, Iraq and Morocco were the lowest.

"Countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have made significant progress in reforming educational systems," said the report, adding that "yet these achievements remain below other countries at similar levels of economic development."

It added that the relationship between education and economic growth in the MENA remained weak, and the divide between education and unemployment has not been bridged.

According to the report, unemployment in the Arab world averages about 14 percent, higher than that in other areas in the world except the Sub-Saharan Africa.

Palestinian territories are the worst, with unemployment at 25.6 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2008)