Education minister launches World Bank-funded 'Jordan Pathway' programme

AMMAN — Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah on Monday launched the World Bank-funded "Jordan Pathway: Education, Skills and Administrative Reform" programme, which aims to strengthen education management and improve the quality of services and learning outcomes.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mahafzah emphasized the programme's alignment with the Economic Modernisation Vision. "This programme is a critical step in achieving our modernisation goals," according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

The $400-million programme focuses on policy reforms, governance development, accountability mechanisms, and investments in human capital to ensure sustainable progress in the education sector.

He thanked Jordan's development partners, particularly the World Bank, for helping to turn this vision into a tangible reality. 

Highlighting key objectives of the Jordan Pathway programme, Mahafzah outlined several "ambitious" goals, including expanding early childhood education to enrol 25,000 additional students in KG2 and improve quality standards in 4,200 classrooms.

The programme, he said, also aims to improve basic learning skills for 150,000 students in early grades, as well as strengthen vocational and technical education with graduating 50,000 students in priority sectors to meet labour market needs.

The minister also said that the programme also pushes towards improving teacher recruitment through hiring 70 per cent of teachers and principals through a new merit-based system to ensure quality education.

Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Regional Director for the Middle East, reaffirmed the global lender's commitment to supporting Jordan's education transformation. 

"Jordan will harness the productive potential of its greatest asset - its people, especially youth and women - by strengthening early education and expanding vocational training," Carret said.