In northern Africa, the literacy rate is surprisingly high. Libya, with a literacy rate of 86%, is no exception to this. Despite the less than satisfactory education levels elsewhere in the continent, Libya has fostered a very strong culture of education.
The basic education has been kept free for all citizens, while up to the secondary level, it is compulsory. This surely explains the strongly growing student community in Libya. Currently, there are nine major universities and about 64 vocational institutes and smaller public universities.
The major universities in Libya are:
- University of Omar Almukhtar (Al Bayda)
- Al Fateh University (Tripoli)
- Garyounis University (Benghazi)
Tripoli, the capital city, also has The Higher Institute of Computer Technology, and The Higher Institute of Electronics.
The government has focused heavily on education, regularly allocation as much as more than 30% of the national budget for the education sector only.