E-Twining Project The Education System in Jordan Dr. Mohammed Daoud Al-Majali

1. E-Twining Project The Education System in Jordan Dr. Mohammed Daoud Al-Majali Ministry of Education Consultant for E-Learning and Curriculum Digitization 2006-2007

2. INTRODUCTION

3. 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

4. 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.

5. THE STRUCTURE OF THE JORDANIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM early childhood, basic education and secondary education Education Structure in Jordan Universities (4 years) Community Colleges (2 years) Ages 18-19 Ages 18-21 General Secondary Exam Ages 17-18 Secondary Academic Education (Grades 11-12) Secondary Vocational Education (Grades 11-12) Basic Education (Grades 1 – 10) Ages 6-16 Compulsory Early Childhood Education (Kindergarten 1-2) Ages 4-5 Note: (*) VTC = Vocational Training Corporation

6. 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 Ministry of Education Expenditures (In JD Million) (2002/2003) Ministry of Education Budget (In JD Million) (1994 – 2004) Other* 350 16% Basic and Secondary Education Administrative 4% 14% 300 11% 11% 11% 12% 7% 13% 11% 11% 11% 10% 250 10% 10% 11% 10% 200 JD Million 8% 304 150 286 6% 245 231 221 218 407 100 199 180 4% 155 136 89% 50 2% Total = JD 256 Million 0 0% 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Est Est As % of Total Government Expenditures 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, 2000/2001 - 2004/2005

7. The MoE operates around 3,200 schools and educates more than 70% of school students in Jordan Education Authorities Number of Schools by Authority (2004/2005) 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 UNRWA Military 3% 1% Ministry of Education Private Sector 39% 57% Total = 5,348 Number of Students by Authority (2004/2005) UNRWA Military 1% 9% Ministry of Education Private Sector 20% Total = 1,531,331 70% Source: Ministry of Education Statistical Yearbooks, 2000/2001 - 2004/2005

8. 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 Education Requirements for a 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 andthe economy, supported by accurate labor market information, so that Jordan has the human capacity to undertake rapid economic development • Universal access to advanced informationand communication technology including high-speed, broadband connectivity to the Internet • Capacity to conductresearch 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 Source: Ministry of Education

9. 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. • 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 Components 1 3 Ensure adequate provision of structurally safe school buildings and improved learning environment Re-orient education policy objectives and strategies through governance and administrative reform 2 4 Promote readiness for learning through early childhood education Transform education programs and practices for the knowledge economy Source: Ministry of Education

10. The Jordan Education Initiative, launched in 2003 as a major public-private partnership, is working alongside ERfKE to improve education Jordan Education Initiative (JEI) • 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

11. 80 65 55 34 11 2001 2002 2003 2004 May, 2005 Such efforts have led to notable progress in expanding ICT infrastructure in public schools MoE Schools with Internet/Intranet Connections (2002-2004) Secondary School Internet/Intranet Access (2003) CAGR (2002-2004) 100% 100% Singapore 2,200 2,010 Canada 98% 72% Jordan '05 1,200 58% Japan 500 53% Israel Belgium 41% 2002 2003 2004 May, 2005 As % of Total Thailand 25% 17% 40% 67% 72% Secondary School Student to PC Ratio (2003) Number of Computers in MoE Schools (In ‘000) (2001-2004) 41 Thailand CAGR (2001-2004) 80.8% Belgium 24 20 Japan Jordan '05 13 Israel 12 11 Singapore Student/PC Ratio Canada 8 13 43 37 20 15 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

12. ICT Training

13. E-Curriculum

17. THANKS DTQS