Jordan AME EDUCATION SECTOR PROFILE

A Few Facts … Jordan 66% of Jordan’s population is below the age of 30. More than half of the students in primary education have left the system by the end of lower secondary education (from 93% NER in primary to 35% NER in lower secondary.). Only 1.2% of students from remote areas attend upper secondary education (of an NER of 14.8%). Tertiary education enrolls 6.3% of students while the ASEAN regional average is 23%.

Education Structure Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics Jordan Education System Structure and Enrollments 2007

Education Structure Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Jordan National Education Report Compulsory education in Jordan is ages Jordan Education configuration and enrollments NetGross ClassificationLevel/GradeAges2007 Pre-primaryPre-school %32.5% Pre-university Primary, grades %96% Lower Secondary, grades % 92% Academic Sec., grades % Vocational Sec., grades % Tertiary Undergraduate study18-22 N/A37%* Post-graduate study22+ * Includes all categories of post-secondary.

Population Structure Jordan Source: International Labor Organization 66% of Jordan’s population is below the age of 30. Education opportunities available for these young people now will have serious implications for the country’s future economic growth.

Relevant Policies: National Strategy of the Ministry of Education National Strategy for Higher Education National Education Strategy 2006 Policies available in Arabic at: Education Policy Jordan

Education Access: Pre-university The education system appears to be pretty stable with only the pre- primary level growing incrementally. Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics Jordan

Education Access: Tertiary Jordan

Education Access: Gender Girls in Jordan have consistently enrolled in primary and secondary levels at greater rates than boys. Source: World Development Indicators, World Bank EdStats Jordan

Education Quality : Teachers Jordan More than half (58%) of the country’s pre-university teaching staff have only attained a grade 9 or lower education. However, 99% of them have received some form of pedagogical pre-service training.

Education Quality: Class Density Jordan Higher pupil-class ratios in secondary education underscore the inadequate number of classrooms necessary for the increasing numbers of students at this level.

Education Quality: Completion Source: World Development Indicators Almost 100% of children complete primary education. Jordan

Education Quality: Testing The 2007 science score of 482 was slightly below the TIMSS scale average of 500. Jordan ranked 26 out of 45 participating countries on the 2003 science exam and was first among Arab nations. Source: Trends in International Math and Science Study Jordan

Education Equity: Gender/ Geographic Disparities Jordan Rural students account for 67% of primary enrollments. Remote area enrollments have doubled in the last ten years and account for 7% of total primary enrollments.

Education Equity: Income Disparities Source: Jordan The poorest students have little success in accessing secondary and university level education.

Education Efficiency: Expenditure Source: Jordan More than half (58%) of the country’s pre-university teaching staff have only attained a grade 9 or lower education. However, 99% of them have received some form of pedagogical pre-service training.

Education Efficiency: Expenditure Source: World Bank 2008 Jordan is the most efficient country in the MENA region at reducing repetition based on its public spending on education. Jordan

Education Efficiency: Repetition Repetition rates at primary level are very low. The spike in repetition rates at secondary level in 2004 is unexplained by the data. Source: World Development Indicators (WDI) Jordan

Education Efficiency: Repetition Source: World Bank 2008 Jordan has been very successful at addressing repetition rates. Jordan

Education Efficiency: Staff Ratios Source: Jordan Staff ratios are steadily declining. Non-teaching staff however prefer to be classified as teaching staff to maintain their pedagogy allowance and work a 10-month year.