Education in Jordan

The education system of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan includes basic, secondary, and higher education. It has grown a lot since the early 1900s. Education has helped Jordan change from a farming-based country to a more advanced one.

Map of Jordan

Jordan has many researchers in research and development compared to other countries in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Most children go to primary school, and almost all of them continue to secondary school. The Ministry of Education of Jordan manages primary and secondary schools, and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research oversees colleges and universities.

Jordan's education system starts with two years of preschool. This is followed by 10 years of required basic education. There are also two optional years of secondary education. Public schools give free education to everyone. They teach mainly in Arabic and require English as a subject for ten years. The country has two special universities, nine university colleges, one regional university, and 39 community colleges.

Education Management System

The Ministry of Education manages preschool, primary, and secondary education in Jordan. Higher education is handled by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which includes councils for higher education and accreditation. This ministry made a plan for higher education from 2007 to 2012.

Technical and vocational training for older students is handled by the Vocational Training Corporation, under the Ministry of Labor.

School Education

The fifth grade of secondary school at Salt School, it is the first school in Jordan.

Jordan’s education system starts with two years of preschool, followed by ten years of required basic education, and ends with two years of secondary school. Students then take a big exam called the General Certificate of Secondary Education (Tawjihi). Both basic and secondary education in public schools are free.

Basic Education

Basic education lasts ten years and is required and free for all children from grades 1 to 10. Books are given by the Ministry of Education. Children must stay in school until they are sixteen.

Over half of Jordan’s people are under thirty years old. Many are still in school. In 2007/2008, about 96% of children were enrolled in primary school, which is better than most other countries in the area. Jordan makes sure boys and girls have almost the same chances to go to school. Public schools cost less for poor families compared to other education levels.

Young girls reading.

There are two types of schools: public and private. Private schools are popular, especially in Amman, the capital. But they cost a lot — from $1000 to $7000, which is very expensive for many families.

Secondary education

Students in secondary school can choose between a science track or a more general track. All students study Arabic, English, mathematics, and computer studies. They also study science subjects like biology and physics if they choose the science track, or history if they choose the general track. All students learn about Islam, except Christian students. Plans are being made to change the secondary system starting in 2020.

After two years, students take the Tawjihi exam. If they pass, they can go to university or get a job, depending on their skills. Some students choose vocational training instead, which gives them job skills but not the Tawjihi certificate.

Female secondary students on a field trip to Jerash

Most students move from primary to secondary school — about 99% as of 2013. In international tests, Jordanian students do well compared to others.

Curriculum in Schools

Jordan’s schools teach many subjects to prepare students for future education and jobs. Core subjects include Arabic, English, mathematics, science, and social studies. Arabic and literature are very important. English is taught from the first grade because it is used around the world. Mathematics and science help students think and solve problems, which is important for jobs like engineering and medicine. Students also learn about religion, physical education, and information technology.

Most schools follow the same plan set by the Ministry of Education, but private and international schools can choose different subjects, like arts or more languages.

Students in Jordan like learning English, and both boys and girls feel the same way. English is taught from the first grade to help students succeed in school and jobs worldwide. However, schools in cities often have better resources and teachers than schools in the countryside.

UNRWA in Jordan

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) runs a large school system in the Middle East. It has provided basic and preparatory education to Palestinian refugees for almost 50 years. In Jordan, UNRWA offers free basic education to all Palestinian refugee children. There are special training courses in eight centers, two of which are in Jordan, and these have been running for about 40 years. UNRWA also has an Institute of Education in Amman to train its teachers.

UNRWA in Amman, Jordan

In Jordan, not all refugee children go to UNRWA schools. Many Palestinian refugees can send their children to government schools, and many choose to do this. Most UNRWA schools have more than one shift of students each day. The Jordan area has the most schools with double shifts.

School Authority	Elementary Level	Preparatory Level	Secondary Level
UNRWA School	86,931	54,283	0
Government School	38,180	25,938	2,943
Private School	2,616	1,347	18,488
Total	127,727	81,558	21,431	230,716

Education Reform Efforts

The most recent education reforms in Jordan started in the early 1990s. Under King Abdullah II, these reforms sped up in 2001. The goal was to make Jordan better in technology and part of the world economy.

In late 2002, Jordan made a plan called the National Vision and Mission for Education. Two important documents helped shape this plan. These documents covered education from kindergarten through adult learning. In July 2003, Jordan began a big 10-year program called the Education Reform for the Knowledge Economy Program (ErfKE), with help from the World Bank. This program aimed to improve schools and help young children learn better. The program had two parts, the first from 2003 to 2009 and the second from 2009 to 2015.

Jordan’s Education Initiative won a UNESCO prize for using technology in learning. This project uses information and technology to change how students learn in schools.

Online Education

Darsak is a free online platform in Jordan. It offers video lessons for students from grade 1 to 12, following the Jordanian school curriculum. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Education used Darsak to keep learning going when classrooms were not available.

Higher education

Universities in Jordan

Jordan has a good education system that helps students and workers. The universities offer many programs to help people learn new skills.

َUniversities in Amman

Universities in north

Universities in the south

Mutah University
Al-Hussain Ben talal University
Al Tafilah University of technology
University of Jordan in al aqaba

University Level Studies

Most universities in Jordan follow systems from English and American styles. They work with many universities in those countries. A bachelor's degree usually takes four years to finish. Some fields like Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Engineering take five years. Medicine takes six years plus one more year for training.

After a bachelor's degree, students can study for one to two more years to earn a Master's degree. They can do this by taking classes and writing a thesis, or just by taking classes and passing an exam. Some universities have other types of degrees similar to a Master's.

A Doctorate degree needs three to five more years of study. It includes writing a special research paper and both classes and research work.

Teachers in basic and primary schools need a bachelor's degree. Teachers in secondary schools need a bachelor's degree plus a special one-year training course. Teachers at the university level usually need a Doctorate, but sometimes a Master's degree is enough.

Jordan also offers distance learning through the Arab Open University.

Non-University Level Studies

Jordan has special training programs that are not for university students. These programs last two to three years and can be taken at community colleges. Anyone who finished secondary school can join. The courses cover topics like arts, science, management, business, and engineering. Since 1997, these colleges have been overseen by Al-Balqa Applied University.

After finishing the program, students take a big test called Al-Shamel. If they pass, they receive a diploma or associate degree.

Lifelong Higher Education

Jordan offers many chances for people to keep learning throughout their lives. You can study at public or private universities, community colleges, and special centers like the Royal Scientific Society.

There are courses in many useful subjects such as engineering, computers, languages, and business. These courses can last from one week to six months. After finishing, students receive a certificate. Some courses need work experience in a certain job before you can join. This helps people improve their skills for different jobs.

Challenges

Jordan has improved its education system, but it still has some challenges. One big challenge is the growing number of students. Many people have moved to Jordan for safety, so schools and universities now have more students. Jordan needs to build many new classrooms to fit all the students. Some areas have too many schools, while others have schools that are too full.

Education in Jordan