Education

Jordan: Higher learning

Jordan is looking to build on its impressive educational credentials, stepping up efforts to broaden the country's knowledge and skills base. The education system already receives top marks on a number of regional and international indices, having one of the highest adult literacy rates in the Middle East and North Africa region and a 97 per cent completion rate for students at the primary level. According to a World Bank report released in April, Jordan has initiated a series of comprehensive education reforms to capitalize on its strong record of education completion and adult literacy, improving school buildings and learning environments. One of the centerpieces of Jordan's long-term scheme to further raise learning standards is the Education Reform for the Knowledge Economy (ERfKE) project. Backed by a number of overseas groups, including the Canadian International Development Agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency, the World Bank and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the US$410 million program aims to lift Jordan's education system to the next level, going beyond the provision of basic skills to providing those needed in a modern knowledge-based economy. To date, some 85,000 teachers are being given training on International Children's Digital Library software, more than 2800 schools have been connected to online learning portals and some 70 per cent of Jordan's primary and secondary students are now using the internet for educational purposes on a regular basis, the World Bank report said. In order to continue this progress, Jordan and the World Bank signed an agreement at the end of last year that sees the international lender providing a US$60 million soft loan to Amman to fund the next stage of ERfKE, which includes bolstering the pre-tertiary education sector. (Source: OBG)