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HR 1 RFS
two-thirds of illiterate adults, with most living in 
rural areas. 
‘‘(11) The publication of books and other read-
ing materials in Arab countries faces many major 
challenges, including the small number of readers 
due to high rates of illiteracy in some such countries 
and the weak purchasing power of the Arab reader. 
The limited readership in Arab countries is reflected 
in the small number of books published in such 
countries, which does not exceed 1.1 percent of 
world production, although Arabs constitute five per-
cent of the world population. 
‘‘(12) The nexus between health and education 
in Arab countries is very strong. Gains in women’s 
education accounted for an estimated 43 percent re-
duction in child malnutrition between 1970 and 
1995. Educated mothers are more likely to better 
space births, to have adequate prenatal care, and to 
immunize their children. 
‘‘(13) Many educational systems in Arab and 
non-Arab Muslim countries widen the gap between 
rich and poor: while rich students attend excellent 
private schools, poor children receive grossly inad-
equate schooling. 
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‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to 
strengthen the public educational systems in Arab and 
predominantly Muslim countries by— 
‘‘(1) authorizing the establishment of an Inter-
national Arab and Muslim Youth Educational Fund 
through which the United States dedicates re-
sources, either through a separate fund or through 
an international organization, to assist those coun-
tries that commit to education reform; and 
‘‘(2) providing resources for the Fund to help 
strengthen the public educational systems in those 
countries. 
‘‘(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF FUND.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.—The President is authorized 
to establish an International Arab and Muslim 
Youth Opportunity Fund. 
‘‘(2) LOCATION.—The Fund may be estab-
lished— 
‘‘(A) as a separate fund in the Treasury; 
or 
‘‘(B) through an international organization 
or international financial institution, such as 
the United Nations Educational, Science and 
Cultural Organization, the United Nations De-
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HR 1 RFS
velopment Program, or the International Bank 
for Reconstruction and Development. 
‘‘(3) TRANSFERS AND RECEIPTS.—The head of 
any department, agency, or instrumentality of the 
United States Government may transfer any amount 
to the Fund, and the Fund may receive funds from 
private enterprises, foreign countries, or other enti-
ties. 
‘‘(4) ACTIVITIES
OF
THE
FUND.—The Fund 
shall support programs described in this paragraph 
to improve the education environment in Arab and 
predominantly Muslim countries. 
‘‘(A) ASSISTANCE TO ENHANCE MODERN 
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.— 
‘‘(i) The establishment in Arab and 
predominantly Muslim countries of a pro-
gram of reform to create a modern edu-
cation curriculum in the public educational 
systems in such countries. 
‘‘(ii) The establishment or moderniza-
tion of educational materials to advance a 
modern educational curriculum in such 
systems. 
‘‘(iii) Teaching English to adults and 
children. 
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‘‘(iv) The establishment in Arab and 
predominantly Muslim countries of pro-
grams that enhance accountability, trans-
parency, and interaction on education pol-
icy in such countries between the national 
government and the regional and local gov-
ernments through improved information 
sharing and monitoring. 
‘‘(v) The establishment in Arab and 
predominantly Muslim countries of pro-
grams to assist in the formulation of ad-
ministration and planning strategies for all 
levels of government in such countries, in-
cluding national, regional, and local gov-
ernments. 
‘‘(vi) The enhancement in Arab and 
predominantly Muslim countries of com-
munity, family, and student participation 
in the formulation and implementation of 
education strategies and programs in such 
countries. 
‘‘(B) ASSISTANCE FOR TRAINING AND EX-
CHANGE PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS, ADMINIS-
TRATORS, AND STUDENTS.— 
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‘‘(i) The establishment of training 
programs for teachers and educational ad-
ministrators to enhance skills, including 
the establishment of regional centers to 
train individuals who can transfer such 
skills upon return to their countries. 
‘‘(ii) The establishment of exchange 
programs for teachers and administrators 
in Arab and predominantly Muslim coun-
tries and with other countries to stimulate 
additional ideas and reform throughout the 
world, including teacher training exchange 
programs focused on primary school teach-
ers in such countries. 
‘‘(iii) The establishment of exchange 
programs for primary and secondary stu-
dents in Muslim and Arab countries and 
with other countries to foster under-
standing and tolerance and to stimulate 
long-standing relationships. 
‘‘(C) ASSISTANCE
TARGETING
PRIMARY 
AND SECONDARY STUDENTS.— 
‘‘(i) The establishment in Arab and 
predominantly Muslim countries of after- 
school programs, civic education programs, 
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and education programs focusing on life 
skills, such as inter-personal skills and so-
cial relations and skills for healthy living, 
such as nutrition and physical fitness. 
‘‘(ii) The establishment in Arab and 
predominantly Muslim countries of pro-
grams to improve the proficiency of pri-
mary and secondary students in informa-
tion technology skills. 
‘‘(D) ASSISTANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF 
YOUTH PROFESSIONALS.— 
‘‘(i) The establishment of programs in 
Arab and predominantly Muslim countries 
to improve vocational training in trades to 
help strengthen participation of Muslims 
and Arabs in the economic development of 
their countries. 
‘‘(ii) The establishment of programs 
in Arab and predominantly Muslim coun-
tries that target older Muslim and Arab 
youths not in school in such areas as en-
trepreneurial skills, accounting, micro-fi-
nance activities, work training, financial 
literacy, and information technology. 
‘‘(E) OTHER TYPES OF ASSISTANCE.— 
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