Why did we remain a backward country?

It is a real pleasure join you the English course in North Glasgow College. I found studying English in this country an interesting thing. When I make a comparison between teaching style in my country and teaching methods here in the UK, I realise the reason why we remained underdeveloped country.
There is no doubt that nation's development is depend on the education system. Although we were bioneer nation in all kind of sciences a few hundred years ago, the education system in my country is a miserable one, unfortunately. Teaching in our schools is depend on teacher's effort . That mean student doesn't participate the teacher in the class, because he need to lesson to the teacher and understand, if he could, and then at the end of the term he has to sit to the exam. In addition, the using of illustrations and supporting activities are nearly absent in the class and I think this would make the class dry and boring.
Furthermore, the political situation was in a complete failure because we had two wars with our neighbour (Iran and Kwait). Also Iraq was under siege from 1991(when Saddam's army invaded Kwait!!) to 2003 (when Bush's army invaded Iraq!!).Between those year, the education was in miserable condition; teachers were paid 1.5 dollar each month, it was the lowest salary in the world and the students wasn't better than their teachers. Both students and teachers were suffering but they didn't give up their mission despite the difficulties and hopless situation they were live in.
I hope the situation will be better in the near future after we've set free from Saddam's dictator regime, as the new government shows a good attention to the education and trying to make it better.Hundreds of new schools have been built and teachers regain what they deserve of respect and dignity as well as good salary.
What about you? Do you have a good education system in your country?