E-Twining Project The Education System in Jordan Dr. Mohammed Daoud Al-Majali Ministry of Education Consultant for E- Learning and Curriculum Digitization

INTRODUCTION

Use of ICT in Education Policies in Jordan Education Vision, Goals, Priority In 1999 His Majesty King Abdullah II articulated his vision that the economic future of Jordan would be found through successful participation in the global knowledge economy, and more particularly in the value-added information technology industries. Jordan is developing a national education strategy from pre-primary to secondary education. The new education sector policy was identified Jordan will commit $380 million to the Education Reform for Knowledge Economy (ERfKE) program in which ICT in education is a core component ERfKE aims to close skill gaps and improve the quality of education

Use of ICT in Education Policies in Jordan Jordan’s human development indicators look pretty good in terms of educational attainment. Under ERfKE, schools will be connected. The student-computer ratio is improving. Many initiatives are on-going in various areas such as networking, curriculum development and teacher training. These activities have to come together to transform teaching and learning to create the knowledge society and economy.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE JORDANIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM early childhood, basic education and secondary education Early Childhood Education (Kindergarten 1-2) Basic Education (Grades 1 – 10) Secondary Academic Education (Grades 11-12) Secondary Vocational Education (Grades 11-12) General Secondary Exam Universities (4 years) Community Colleges (2 years) Education Structure in Jordan Note: (*) VTC = Vocational Training Corporation Ages 4-5 Ages 6-16 Ages Ages Ages Compulsory

As such, around 10-12% of the Government ’ s budget goes to the Ministry of Education (MoE) every year, and is almost entirely spent on basic and secondary education Note: (*) Other includes expenditures on: General Exams, Vocational Education, Training and Teachers Certification, Curricula and School Textbooks, Special Education, Educational Athletics, Social Activities and Literacy Source: Ministry of Education Statistical Yearbooks, 2000/ /2005 Ministry of Education Expenditures (In JD Million) (2002/2003) Ministry of Education Budget (In JD Million) (1994 – 2004) Basic and Secondary Education Administrative Other* Total = JD 256 Million JD Million 4% 7% 89% % 11% 13% 11% 10% Est 2004 Est 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% As % of Total Government Expenditures

The MoE operates around 3,200 schools and educates more than 70% of school students in Jordan Source: Ministry of Education Statistical Yearbooks, 2000/ /2005 Ministry of Education Total = 5,348 Number of Schools by Authority (2004/2005) Total = 1,531,331 Number of Students by Authority (2004/2005) Private Sector UNRWAMilitary Ministry of Education Private Sector UNRWA Military Education Authorities Ministry of Education (MoE) Largest education provider in Jordan Manages and funds the public school system Mandates curricula to be used by all other providers Private Sector Privately funded schools - can offer other curricula in addition to those mandated by the MoE UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East - responsible for providing education to the Palestinian refugees in Jordan Military Jordan ’ s military authority, manages and funds schools for children of military personnel and remote areas Ministry of Education (MoE) Largest education provider in Jordan Manages and funds the public school system Mandates curricula to be used by all other providers Private Sector Privately funded schools - can offer other curricula in addition to those mandated by the MoE UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East - responsible for providing education to the Palestinian refugees in Jordan Military Jordan ’ s military authority, manages and funds schools for children of military personnel and remote areas 39% 57% 3% 1% 9% 70% 20%

In 2003, the MoE embarked on an ambitious reform program in order to transform the public education system to meet the requirements of the knowledge economy  Life-long learning opportunities for all Jordanians to enable them to keep up with rapid change in the challenges of citizenship and the structure of the economy  Effective linkages between the education system and the economy, supported by accurate labor market information, so that Jordan has the human capacity to undertake rapid economic development  Universal access to advanced information and communication technology including high-speed, broadband connectivity to the Internet  Capacity to conduct research to improve human resource decision- making by government, educators and industry  Open engagement with global partners in education  Promotion of a culture of innovation and responsiveness to the community at the institutional delivery level of the educational system Education Requirements for a Knowledge Economy Source: Ministry of Education

This reform program, known as ERfKE, is structured in four components Education Reform for the Knowledge Economy (ERfKE) ERfKE is a multi-donor project whose objective is to support the Government of Jordan to transform the education system at the early childhood, basic, and secondary levels to produce graduates with the skills needed for the knowledge economy. Re-orient education policy objectives and strategies through governance and administrative reform Transform education programs and practices for the knowledge economy Ensure adequate provision of structurally safe school buildings and improved learning environment Promote readiness for learning through early childhood education ERfKE Components Source: Ministry of Education  ERfKE is a multi-donor project whose objective is to support the Government of Jordan to transform the education system at the early childhood, basic, and secondary levels to produce graduates with the skills needed for the knowledge economy  Phase 1 of ERfKE covers the period July 2003 to July 2008, with a total budget of $380 million  The World Bank has provided financial support of $120 million for the plan.  Other funders include the United States, Canada, UK, Japan, the European Union, Kuwait ’ s Arab Fund and the Islamic Development Bank  ERfKE is a multi-donor project whose objective is to support the Government of Jordan to transform the education system at the early childhood, basic, and secondary levels to produce graduates with the skills needed for the knowledge economy  Phase 1 of ERfKE covers the period July 2003 to July 2008, with a total budget of $380 million  The World Bank has provided financial support of $120 million for the plan.  Other funders include the United States, Canada, UK, Japan, the European Union, Kuwait ’ s Arab Fund and the Islamic Development Bank

The Jordan Education Initiative, launched in 2003 as a major public-private partnership, is working alongside ERfKE to improve education  JEI is a public-private partnership launched in June 2003 with the support of the World Economic Forum, and is being marketed as a mechanism for enabling and accelerating social and economic development across the region  JEI is designed to improve education through the effective use of ICT and to demonstrate how ICT enables new systems and benefits schools and pupils Development of an e-learning curriculum and piloting in 100 “ Discovery Schools ” Private organizations are investing around $15 million, in addition to $5-$6 million from the government  JEI has 200 participants, including: Government entities (Ministry of Education, Ministry of ICT) Non-governmental entities (e.g. World Economic Forum) 17 global corporations (e.g. Cisco, Microsoft, and IBM) 17 local entities (e.g. Fastlink, Rubicon, Jordan Telecom, Menhaj and Integrated Technology Group) Source: Ministry of Education; ERfKE Draft Aide Memoire, March 2005, World Bank Jordan Education Initiative (JEI)

Such efforts have led to notable progress in expanding ICT infrastructure in public schools Source: Social and Economic Transformation Program (SETP) Achievements Report, Ministry of Planning; ERfKE Project- Monitoring and Assessment of the Implementation of ICT in Schools, July 2004, Ministry of Education CAGR ( ) 80.8% Student/ PC Ratio MoE Schools with Internet/Intranet Connections ( ) Number of Computers in MoE Schools (In ‘000) ( ) CAGR ( ) 100% 40%67%17% As % of Total Secondary School Internet/Intranet Access (2003) Secondary School Student to PC Ratio (2003) 72% Thailand Belgium Japan Jordan '05 Israel Singapore Canada 100% 98% 72% 58% 53% 41% 25% Singapore Canada Jordan '05 Japan Israel Belgium Thailand 500 1,200 2,010 2, May, May, 2005

Training NameNumbers of Trainees ICDL60000 INTEL30000 World Links1570 School on Line12 Cisco465 A+434 MCSE26 MCAD24 ICT Training

Rollout Grades 1-12 Math  Pre-pilot Phase 1 Grades 1-3: Feb 2, 2006 – June 2006 Science  Pilot Phase 1 Grades 1-3: Sept – Dec 2006  Roll out Phase 1 Grades 1-3: Feb 07 – Sept. 07  Pre-pilot Phase 2 Grades 4-8: Feb 23, 2006 – June 2006  Pilot Phase 2 Grades 4-8 Sept – Dec 2006  Roll out Phase 2 Grades 4-8 Feb. 07 – Sept. 07  Pre-pilot Phase 3 Grades 9-10: Sept – Dec 2006  Pilot Phase 3 Grades 9-10 Feb 07- May 07  Roll out Phase 3 Grades 9-10 Sept. 07  Pre-pilot Phase 4 Grades 11-12: Sept – Dec 2006  Pilot Phase 4 Grades Feb 07 – May 07  Roll out Phase 4 Grades Sept. 07 E-Curriculum

 Pilot Phase1 Grades 1-3 Nov,2005 – June,2006 ICT  Rollout Phase 1 Grades 1-3 Sept,2006 – Sept,2007  Pre-Pilot Phase 2 Grades 4-6 Dec,2005 – June, 2006  Pilot Phase 2 Grades 4-6 Sept,2006 – Dec,2006  Roll out Phase 2 Grades 4-6 Feb 07- Sept  Pre-pilot Phase 3 grades 7-10: Feb,2006- June 2006  Pilot Phase 3 grades 7-10: Sept,2006 – Dec, 2006  Roll out Ph 3 Grades 7-10 Feb 07- Sept. 2007

 Pre-pilot Ph 1 Grade 7 Feb,2006 – June 2006 EFL  Pilot Ph 1 Grade 7: Sept,2006 – Dec,2006  Roll out Ph 1 Grade 7 Feb 07 – Sept 07  Pre-pilot Ph 2 Grades 8-10 Feb,2006 – June  Pilot Ph 2 Grades 8-10 in Sept 06- Dec. 06  Roll out Ph 2 Grades 8-10 Feb 07- Sept. 07  Pre-pilot Ph 3 Grades Sept,2006 – Dec,2006  Pilot Ph 3 Grades Feb 07- June 07  Roll out Ph 3 Grades Sept 07

 Pilot Ph1 Grade 4 Nov,2005 – June,2006 Arabic  Rollout Ph 1 Grade 4 Sept,2006 – Sept,2007  Pre-pilot Ph 2 Grade 5-6 Nov,2005 – March,2006  Pilot Ph 2 Grades 5-6 April,2006 – Dec,2006  Roll out Ph 2 Grades 5-6 Feb 07 – Sept. 07  Pre-pilot Ph 3 Grades 1-3 Apr,2006 – June,2006  Pilot Ph 3 Grades 1-3 Sept, 2006 – Jan,2007  Roll out Ph 3 Grades 1-3 Jan 07 – Sept 07  Pre-pilot Ph 4 Grades 7-9 Sept,2006 – Jan,2007  Pilot Ph 4 Grades 7-9 Jan 07 – June 07  Roll out Ph 4 Grades 7-9 Sept. 07  Pre-Pilot Ph 5 Grades  Pilot Ph 5 Grades Jan 07- June 07  Roll out Ph 5 Grdaes Sept. 07  Roll out R4, R5-6, August 06

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