memorization by rote of large parts of the qur'an, its interpretation and understanding (tafsir) and the application of islamic tradition to everyday life is at the core of the curriculum. religion taught in this manner is also a compulsory subject for all university students. as a consequence, saudi youth "generally lacks the education and technical skills the private sector needs" according to the cia. similarly, "the chronicle of higher education" wrote in 2010 that "the country needs educated young saudis with marketable skills and a capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship. that's not generally what saudi arabia's educational system delivers, steeped as it is in rote learning and religious instruction."