School Education

School education in Jordan could be categorized into two sections: Basic education, which includes 10 years of school study free and compulsory for all Jordanians. At the end of grade 10, the grades of each student for the previous three years (8th, 9th, and 10th) are calculated to determine in which secondary stream that student can continue. Usually, the student’s wishes are taken into account, but the final decision rests with the Ministry of Education, and Secondary education, which consists of two years of school study. The secondary cycle of two years is divided into two main streams. The first is the comprehensive secondary education stream that ends with a general secondary education examination, the Tawjihi, and consists of a common core curriculum and optional specialized academic or vocational courses. The second is the applied secondary educational stream, which consists of specialized vocational courses; these prepare skilled labour through apprenticeship programs run by the Vocational Training Corporation or the Ministry of Education. High school level consists of tow years studying divided into four studying semesters: tow semesters each year. This system is conducted on all private and local schools. Passing school exams is a must for any student to set for the final examinations (Tawjihi) The final result is accumulative rate of the four semesters.  

    Foreign Secondary Education Programs

After completing the 8 or 10 years of basic education, Jordanians are free to choose any foreign secondary education program instead of the Tawjihi examinations (8 for IGCSE, 10 for SAT and IB). Such programs are usually offered by private schools. Private schools in Jordan also used to offer GCSE examinations, but they have now been replaced by IGCSE examinations. Upon graduation, the ministry of Higher Education, through a system similar to that of the UK tariff points, transforms the Grades/Marks of these foreign educational programs, into the same marks used in grading Tawjihi students. This system is controversial, both as to the conversion process and the number of places allocated to non-Tawjihi applicants.