FAQ · Education 24

Ahlan World in Amman lists a one-time registration fee of 50 US dollars per student for its Arabic courses. A standard Modern Standard Arabic course is priced at 170 US dollars a week for two to fifteen weeks, with three hours a day on five days a week, and the intensive Modern Standard Arabic course is priced at 260 US dollars a week with five hours a day on the same five-day pattern. Jordanian colloquial Arabic is priced at 120 US dollars a week for two hours a day, the intensive colloquial course at 260 US dollars a week for five hours a day, a colloquial speaking course at 70 US dollars a week, and the combined Ahlan Linguist package at 280 US dollars a week, each offered for two to fifteen weeks on five days a week. Packages that add one week in a single room, airport pickup and five lunches at the school are listed at 310 US dollars for standard Modern Standard Arabic, 399 US dollars for the intensive Modern Standard Arabic package, 299 US dollars for standard colloquial Arabic and 399 US dollars for the intensive colloquial package. One-to-one classes with an experienced teacher are listed at 22 US dollars an hour, and one-to-one classes for advanced study or examination preparation are listed at 30 US dollars an hour. For a one-to-one course the school reschedules a missed class only when the student gives notice at least one day ahead, and a student who arrives more than 15 minutes late may have the class cancelled with no refund.

The Aqaba Special Economic Zone service sheet for subscription and membership in the public library lists a fee of five dinars for a person over the age of 18 and a fee of two and a half dinars for the student category. The applicant goes to the public library and files a membership request, and the librarian then sends a text message that contains an electronic payment number. The fee is paid at any eFAWATEERcom payment centre, and the applicant receives a library identity card from the librarian. The sheet requires Jordanian nationality, and it sets an age above 12 years for the student category. The documents it names are two personal photographs, a copy of the personal identity card, the paid receipt, and a completed membership application, with the telephone numbers of two colleagues added when the applicant cannot be reached. It states that the service is obtained by attending in person at the public library.

The education system in Jordan includes basic, secondary, and higher education. It has played a significant role in the country's development from an agrarian to an industrialized nation. The Ministry of Education has developed a highly advanced national curriculum despite strained resources. Higher education is accessible to holders of the General Secondary Education Certificate. Students can choose between public or private universities and community colleges. At the university level, a credit-hour system is implemented which allows students to select courses according to a study plan.

The educational system in Jordan includes 10 years of compulsory basic education. This follows 2 years of pre-school education. After this period, students can pursue two years of secondary academic or vocational education. Upon completing this, students sit for the General Certificate of Secondary Education Exam known as Tawjihi. Primary education is provided for free to students. Scholars have the option to attend either private or public schools.

Access to higher education is available to holders of the General Secondary Education Certificate. Students can choose between public and private universities. There are also options to attend either private or public Community Colleges. At these universities, a credit-hour system is implemented. This system allows students to select their courses according to a specific study plan.

The Adyghe language in Jordan has historically held a relatively privileged status. However, it currently faces significant pressure as Arabic has become the dominant language for the younger generation. The language is often restricted to domestic use or symbolic functions. Because of this, Adyghe serves more as a folkloric marker of identity than a functional tool for daily communication. It is currently classified as severely endangered due to a rapid disruption in intergenerational transmission.

The University of Jordan has the highest admission scores for most majors in the country. This institution is highly ranked globally and within the Arab world across several major ranking systems. For example, it was ranked as the top university in Jordan according to the 2021 Webometrics Ranking of World Universities. It also holds various positions in the QS World University Rankings and the Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities. The university maintains numerous bilateral agreements, including many for student exchange programs.

The University of Jordan is associated with Jordan University Hospital, which serves as a major center for medical education and research. This hospital provides clinical training for medical, nursing, and allied health students while supporting postgraduate specialist training. The university research facilities also house valuable scientific collections, including historic documents and important fossil remains. Furthermore, the University of Jordan Deanship of Academic Research collaborates to publish several internationally peer-reviewed scientific journals. These publications cover various fields such as medical, pharmaceutical, applied, and social sciences.

The International Student Office was established in 2005 and is supervised directly by the president. Highly qualified coordinators and staff provide cultural, social and legal consultation. They also organize field trips, social events, and meetings with the president. Additionally, an International student Club is available to students. An International Community Fair also takes place annually to encourage cross-cultural communication and diversity.

Vocational training is supported through the Fund for Scientific Research and Vocational Training which was established in 1997. This fund was launched to ensure that public shareholding Jordanian companies contribute to development. These companies are expected to spend 1% of their net profits on research and development or vocational training within their own structure. Alternatively, they can pay an equivalent amount into the fund for redistribution for these same purposes. New regulations were adopted in 2010 to clarify the definitions of research and vocational training.

The literacy rate among adults in Jordan has seen significant changes over the decades. In 1979, the rate was recorded at 66.8 percent. By 2012, it reached a high of 97.89 percent. More recent data shows the rate was 95.43 percent in 2018. As of 2024, the literacy rate stands at 94.44 percent.

Jordan has performed well in international assessments like TIMSS and PISA. In the 2003 TIMSS report, Jordanian students scored 22 points above the international average in science and mathematics. The transition rate from primary to secondary education reached 98.79% as of 2013. However, the transition to tertiary education is highly correlated with family incomes because university education is not free. Additionally, the Jordan Education Initiative recently received the UNESCO prize for ICT use in Education to transform school learning environments.

The education system in Jordan is structured around a two-year preschool period. This is followed by 10 years of compulsory basic education and two years of optional secondary education. Recent education reforms have specifically aimed to promote early childhood education. These efforts were part of ambitious programs designed to align educational policies with a knowledge-based economy. The national vision for education covers the entire spectrum from kindergarten to lifelong continuing education.

Education reform in Jordan began in the early 1990s and was accelerated under King Abdullah II in 2001. The reform process aims to make the country a regional technology hub and an active player in the global economy. Key documents like Jordan Vision 2020 helped shape the national vision for education from kindergarten to lifelong learning. One major initiative was the 10-year Education Reform for the Knowledge Economy Program launched in 2003. This program sought to align educational policies with a knowledge-based economy and improve school learning environments.

The University of Jordan Library was established in 1962 and was the second public library in Jordan. It occupies over 12,000 square meters, with an additional 4,000 square meters of reading rooms located across various faculties and research centers. The collection includes more than one million print and electronic items, such as historical documents, archives, and newspaper runs dating back to 1870. It serves faculty, students, researchers, and visiting scholars, providing facilities for visually impaired students as well. The library is open 90 hours per week and serves approximately 11,000 users every day.

A significant incident involving school transport occurred in the Dead Sea region on October 25, 2018. During this time, a school bus was raided by fatal heavy floods which resulted in the loss of 21 lives. Following this tragedy, the then Minister of Education and Lina Mazhar Annab submitted their resignations to take responsibility for the incident. This event took place towards the end of Annab's term as the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities. The incident remains a notable moment in the history of school transportation safety in the country.

The School of Medicine was established in 1971 and stands as the first medical school in Jordan. Following this, the School of Nursing opened in 1972 as the first program to offer a bachelor's degree in nursing. The School of Pharmacy was founded in 1979 as the country's first pharmacy faculty. In 1982, the School of Dentistry was established to train dentists in oral health and dental surgery. Finally, the School of Rehabilitation Sciences was founded in 1999 and specializes in fields like physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

The University of Jordan provides various academic programs through its different faculties. One of the humanities faculties is the School of Law. This school is part of a group that encompasses a broad range of non-scientific disciplines and professional fields. The university also offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs to its students. These academic offerings are organized into scientific, medical, and humanitarian streams.

The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is the government body responsible for implementing policies in Jordan's higher education sector. This ministry provides support, services, and organization to guide the sector and its scientific research. Since 2006, the ministry has issued several internationally peer-reviewed journals in cooperation with various Jordanian universities. For example, the Jordan Journal of Civil Engineering is published in cooperation with the Jordan University of Science and Technology. Other specialized journals cover fields such as mechanical and industrial engineering, biological sciences, and chemistry.

While women have access to basic schooling, their access to technical training is limited. Women are often expected to study topics that directly relate to their dominant roles as wives and mothers. These subjects include art, humanities, and teaching. This expectation is rooted in gender inequality and cultural practices. Consequently, women often focus on these specific areas of study.

Zainab Ali Abu Ghneimah was the first female high school teacher in Jordan. She was born in Irbid and received her early education at home from her brothers. After studying at the Bimaristan School in Damascus, she began her teaching career. In the early 1920s, she started teaching at the Amman Girls' School. She later served as a principal for several schools in Irbid and Amman.

Jordan has seen significant increases in school enrollment rates over the years. The primary gross enrollment ratio reached 98.2 percent in 2006, and the transition rate to secondary school rose to 97 percent during the same period. Full parity in primary and secondary enrollment was achieved by 2008. For those seeking higher education, access is open to holders of the General Secondary Education Certificate. These students can choose between public or private universities and community colleges.

A research visa is intended for students who are conducting fieldwork in the host country. This type of visa is distinct from other categories like student or journalist visas. It is generally more difficult to obtain than a business visa. However, these visas are valid for longer periods of time. This allows researchers to focus on their specific academic tasks during their stay.

Private and international schools in Jordan often have more flexibility in their curricula than public schools, whose teaching materials are generally standardized by the Ministry of Education. Those schools sometimes incorporate international standards and offer a wider range of subjects, such as arts and foreign languages beyond English. In public schools, English is a compulsory subject from the first grade under a curriculum designed by the Ministry of Education, and the aim is to prepare students for higher education and the global job market. Jordanian secondary students generally show positive attitudes toward learning English, and both genders show similarly positive attitudes. Instruction is uneven, because urban public schools generally have more resources and better-qualified English teachers than rural schools, which has left a gap in English proficiency between regions.