I don't mean this comment in any way to detract from your statement, and I have no experience with Qatari education or EC to comment on that. But having been through several universities in the US and one in the UK, I think it's safe to say that underdeveloped analytical skills and little experience at critical thinking is a fairly common trait across the US and UK universities as well.

And while I know nothing of Qatari primary and secondary education, I would also hesitate to hold the US students up as having come from a successful primary or secondary education system.

*Backing out now as I have said what little I know, and the rest is all well beyond my expertise...*