JOKINZ charts new path for vocational education in Jordan

AMMAN — The Jordanian-Korean Industrial Secondary School for Boys in Zarqa (JOKINZ), which was opened earlier this month, reflects the Royal vision towards improving vocational education in the Kingdom, according to officials.

Officials and teacher educators in press remarks to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said that the Korea-funded school at a cost of $24 million, is the fruit of collaborative efforts of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Dong-Rui University and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the Ministry of Education. 

Director of Zarqa Education Department Ahmed Al Ayasrah said that the school has a capacity for 300 students in the 11th  grade and 300 students in the 12th  grade, noting that number of administrative and teaching staff stands at 65.

The 29-dunum school offers specialties in auto mechanics, auto electricity, electricity, air conditioning and refrigeration, welding and metal fabrication, as well as carpentry and decoration, he said.

He added that a number of the school’s teaching staff were sent to South Korea to learn about the Korean experience in vocational education.

The school principal, Firas Tamimi, said that besides the six laboratories, the school includes a career counselling centre that allows the students to learn about career opportunities, prepare them for job interviews, help them in writing their CVs and strengthen their interpersonal skills.

He added that the school’s workshops and classrooms are equipped with air conditioning units and latest equipment, noting that the maximum capacity of each classroom is 25.

Tamimi added that GIZ’s support focused on the school curricula.

The school’s staff of engineers will receive training through GIZ during 2023, Tamimi noted.