Education in Jordan

The role played by a good education system has been significant in the development of Jordan from a predominantly agrarian to an industrialized nation over time.

It is also one of the few Arab countries that have very small disparity in primary school attendance rates among urban and rural areas.

However that there are reforms planned to the secondary education system from 2020 onwards that might alter the streams available and the list of subjects.

Core subjects taught in Jordanian schools include Arabic, English, mathematics, science, and social studies.

[17] English is also a mandatory subject from the early grades, given its role as a global lingua franca and its necessity in higher education and business.

[18] Mathematics and science are emphasized to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for students aiming to pursue careers in fields such as engineering and medicine.

[19] Social studies, including history and geography, are taught to foster an understanding of national identity and global awareness.

Religious education, primarily focused on Islamic studies, is a key component of the curriculum and is taught from the first grade.

The materials used for these subjects are generally standardized by the Ministry of Education, ensuring consistency across public schools.

[citation needed] Jordanian secondary school students generally display positive attitudes toward learning the English language.

Notably, there is an absence of gender-based differences, both genders exhibit similarly positive attitudes toward English language acquisition.

This indicate that students in Jordanian public schools, irrespective of gender, maintain a favorable outlook toward learning English.

[20] English is introduced as a compulsory subject starting in the first grade, with a structured curriculum designed by the Ministry of Education.

The Agency provides basic education free of charge to all Palestinian refugee children in its area of operations, which includes Jordan.

The Agency has established an Institute of Education, which is headquartered in Amman, to provide training to the UNRWA teaching staff.

This reform process was accelerated under His Majesty King Abdullah II in early 2001 with a vision to make Jordan the regional technology hub and an active player in the global economy.

[24] The second phase of the ErfKE, which is aligned with IBRD and IFC Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, lasted from 2009 to 2015.

The aim of this program was to strengthen and institutionalize the reforms introduced under ERfKE I, with a particular focus on school level implementation and teacher quality.

The program also aimed to fine tune the curriculum and student assessment to ensure alignment with a knowledge based economy.

In years between 2000/2001 and 2006/2007, Jordan has seen an increased demand for higher education, with enrollments growing at an annual rate of 14% from 77,841 to 218,900 students in that time period.

This decrease in enrollment rates reflects growing preference for 4-year university education and also the fact that quality and level of training given in these colleges is not what is in demand in the labor market of a knowledge-based economy.

[31] The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan possesses systems of human resources of high quality, competitive, efficient and capable of providing society with continuous, lifelong educational experiences closely related to its current and future needs, in response to and stimulating sustainable economic development by preparing educated individuals and a skilled workforce.

Non-university and vocational studies are offered in community colleges, access to which is open to holders of all types of general secondary education certificates.

The two-to three-year programme encompasses many fields, such as Arts, Science, Management, Business Administration and Engineering.

Some are designed for specific occupations, in which case a work experience in the relevant field is needed to attend such courses, such as the books of Nadia Saqer.

Jordan, despite showing impressive improvement in the education system, continues to face persistent problems in this sector.

With a rising youth population, the Jordanian government has to ensure that the quality of education and level of skills imparted can help the new generation to compete effectively on a national and international scale.

Currently, the biggest challenge is the increase of population due to refugee influx, which has put pressure on Jordan's schools and universities.