An analytical study of the causes of the decline in student attendance at Libyan universities (2010–2025) and its impact on academic achievement

Abstract

The higher education system in Libya witnessed a significant decline in attendance and academic achievement indicators during the period (2010–2025), despite the expansion in the number of universities and the increasing use of digital learning tools. Attendance rates dropped from 82% to 32%, while the average GPA declined to 2.20/4.0, reflecting a structural educational crisis that is not limited to students’ performance but extends to complex political, security, economic, and institutional factors. The most prominent of these include the spread of unlicensed universities, weak alignment between education and the labor market, and the consequences of the post-2011 security situation. The study adopted a mixed-method approach, including a field survey and documentary analysis, and concluded that the continuation of this situation threatens human capital and weakens prospects for sustainable development. It recommended establishing an independent national quality assurance body, closing unlicensed institutions, developing digital education systems, and restructuring curricula in line with labor market needs. It also called for strengthening social and psychological support for students, linking employment to merit-based criteria, and expanding partnerships with the private sector, in order to achieve a comprehensive reform of the higher education system in Libya.