Education system J ordan described and compared with the Dutch system Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Jordan This document contains information on the education system in Jordan. We explain the Dutch equivalent of the most common qualifications from Jordan for the purpose of admission to Dutch higher education. Disclaimer We assemble the information for these descriptions of education systems with the greatest care. However, we cannot be held responsible for the consequences of errors or incomplete information in this document. With the exception of images and illustrations, the content of this publication is subject to the Creative Commons Name NonCommercial 3.0 Unported licence. Visit www.nuffic.nl/en/home/copyright for more information on the reuse of this publication. Education system Jordan | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2017 | Version 1, December 2017 2 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Jordan Education system Jordan PhD L8 اﻟ دﻛﺗوراة (university education) 3-5 Master L7 Higher Diploma L7 دﺑﻠوم اﻟ دراﺳﺎت اﻟﻌﻠﯾﺎ اﻟﻣﺎﺟﺳﺗﯾر postgraduate (university education) (university education) 2 1-2 Bachelor L6 Intermediate Diploma L5 اﻟ دﺑﻠوم اﻟﻣ ﺗوﺳط اﻟﺑﻛﺎﻟورﯾوس (university education) (community college) undergraduate 4-6 2-3 General Secondary L4 Vocational Secondary L3 Vocational training L2 ﺗدرﯾب ﻣﮭﻧﻲ Education Certificate Education Certificate secondary vocational) ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟ دراﺳﺔ اﻟ ﺛﺎ ﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟ دراﺳﺔ اﻟ ﺛﺎ ﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ (education اﻷردﻧﯾﺔ ﻟﻠﻔروع اﻟﻣﮭﻧﯾﺔ 2 2 1-2 L1 Basic education 10 0 Duration of education Education system Jordan | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2017 | Version 1, December 2017 3 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Jordan Evaluation chart The left-hand column in the table below lists the most common qualifications applicable to admission to higher education. The other columns show the Dutch equivalent along with the comparable levels in the Dutch and European qualifications frameworks. Foreign degree or Dutch equivalent and NLQF level EQF qualification level General Secondary HAVO diploma 4 4 Education Certificate ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟدراﺳﺔ اﻟﺛﺎﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ Vocational Secondary MBO diploma (qualification level 2 2-3 2-3 or 3) Education Certificate ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟدراﺳﺔ اﻟﺛﺎﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ اﻷردﻧﯾﺔ ﻟﻠﻔروع اﻟﻣﮭﻧﯾﺔ Bachelor (4 years) HBO bachelor’s degree or 2 years 6 6 of WO اﻟﺑﻛﺎﻟورﯾوس Bachelor (5 years) WO bachelor’s degree 6 6 اﻟﺑﻛﺎﻟورﯾوس Bachelor (6 years) 1 year of a 3-year WO master’s 6 6 degree اﻟﺑﻛﺎﻟورﯾوس Master 1-year HBO or WO master’s degree 7 7 اﻟﻣﺎﺟﺳﺗﯾر NB • The information provided in the table is a general recommendation from which no rights may be derived. • NLQF = Dutch Qualifications Framework; EQF = European Qualifications Framework. • The EQF/NLQF level is not so much a reflection of study load or content, however it does give an indication of a person’s knowledge and skills after having completed a certain programme of study. • Information about Dutch equivalent qualifications can be found on our website: the Dutch education system. • The Cooperation Organisation for Vocational Education, Training and the Labour Market (SBB), evaluates foreign qualifications and vocational training at VMBO and MBO level. The evaluation may vary if SBB evaluates the diploma for admission to VET schools or the labour market in the Netherlands. Education system Jordan | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2017 | Version 1, December 2017 4 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Jordan Introduction Jordan is a country in the Middle East. Its official name is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Political structure Jordan gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1946. It is a constitutional monarchy, with a bicameral legislature and judiciary. The head of state is King Abdullah II, who succeeded his father upon his death in 1999. Conflict in Syria Due to conflicts in Syria since 2011, refugees have been crossing the border to Jordan in large numbers. This has put pressure on the Jordanian government, particularly since these extra people wish to make use of the infrastructure, food and water facilities, and education. Language Jordan’s official language is Arabic. Many people also speak good English. Education All Jordanian primary and secondary schools (including private schools) are The Ministry of Higher .(وزارة اﻟﺗﻌﻠﯾم واﻟﺗرﺑﯾﺔ) regulated by the Ministry of Education is responsible for (وزارة اﻟﺗﻌﻠﯾم اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻲ واﻟﺑﺣث اﻟﻌﻠﻣﻲ) Education and Scientific Research higher education in Jordan. General features • Compulsory school age: 6-16 years • Language of education: Arabic and English. • Length of the academic year: September to June. Education system Jordan | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2017 | Version 1, December 2017 5 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Jordan Primary and secondary education Primary education Primary (basic) education in Jordan lasts 10 years (grades 1-10) and is intended for children aged 6 to 16. • Public schools: free (70% of all students). • Private schools: school fees (30% of all primary school students). • Various subjects, including English in grades 5-10. • No certificate is issued on completion. • Level upon completion: comparable to 3 years of HAVO. Secondary education Secondary education takes 2 years. Pupils can choose between: • general secondary education; • vocational secondary education. General secondary education offers 3 streams: • sciences • literature • information management .(اﻟﺗوﺟﯾﮭﻲ) Students conclude their studies with a national final exam • Content: usually 10 exam subjects. Arabic, English, mathematics, and Islamic education and cultural studies are compulsory; the remaining subjects vary according to the stream. (General Secondary Education Certificate) ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟدراﺳﺔ اﻟﺛﺎﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ : Qualification In terms of level, the General Secondary Education Certificate is comparable to a HAVO diploma. Vocational secondary education consists of: • vocational subjects • general subjects About one-quarter of pupils choose this pathway after basic education. Vocational Secondary) ﺷﮭﺎدة اﻟدراﺳﺔ اﻟﺛﺎﻧوﯾﺔ اﻟﻌﺎﻣﺔ اﻟﻣﮭﻧﯾﺔ ﻟﻠﻔروع اﻻردﻧﯾﺔ : Qualification Education Certificate). This diploma grants admission to community colleges, and in principle also to universities, although this is uncommon in practice. In terms of level, a Vocational Secondary Education Certificate is comparable to an MBO diploma at qualification level 2 or 3, depending on the specialisation. Education system Jordan | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2017 | Version 1, December 2017 6 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Jordan Secondary vocational education Students in Jordan can also opt for a 1 or 2-year vocational training programme that combines schooling with work placements. Admission to higher education Admission to higher education in Jordan requires a General Secondary Education Certificate or Vocational Secondary Education Certificate. Students with the latter qualification usually continue their studies at community colleges (see Higher professional education). Institutions select students based on their average final exam mark and stream. Students generally do not need to take an admission exam. Admission requirements Each year, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research determines: • the number of available places within a faculty; • the exact entry scores for various fields of study. The requirements therefore differ between fields, however the following generally applies: • public universities: a score of at least 65%; • private universities: a score of at least 60%. NB Prerequisite scores are highest for medicine, dentistry, engineering and the natural sciences. Higher education Jordanian higher education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, with the Council for Higher Education being the coordinating body. The University of Jordan became the country’s first public university in 1962. Recognised private universities have been authorised to provide education since 1989. Current institution numbers: • 10 public universities • 20 private universities • 2 regional universities The universities offer both professional and academic education, at different levels: • Bachelor • Higher Diploma • Master • PhD Education system Jordan | Nuffic | 1st edition, December 2017 | Version 1, December 2017 7 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Jordan Universities design their study programmes themselves. The Higher Education Accreditation Commission (HEAC, a division of the responsible ministry) sets the official curriculum guidelines. The academic year is divided into 2 semesters, with a total study load of 32 weeks; an academic semester consists of 15-17 weeks. Each credit represents 1 contact hour per week of the semester. In the summer holidays students can take up to 9 credits during a third, optional semester. The language of education is Arabic. Due to the growing number of international programmes, some study programmes are also offered in English. In addition to universities, Jordan also has a large number of community colleges, that mainly provide higher professional education programmes. Since 1997, all community colleges have fallen under the auspices of Al Balqa Applied University. University education As mentioned, the universities offer both professional and academic education in a variety of programmes. Bachelor’s programmes • Duration: - 4 years, around 132 credits; - 5 years for dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, architecture and veterinary science;