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Jordan
المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية
Al-Mamlakah al-Urdunniyyah al-Hašimiyyah
The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Anthem
عاش المليك
As-salam al-malaki al-urdoni (transliteration)1
Long live the King
Location of Jordan
Capital
(and largest city) Amman
31°57′N, 35°56′E
Official languages Arabic
Government Constitutional monarchy
- King Abdullah II
- Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit
Independence
- End of British League of Nations mandate
25 May 1946
Area
- Total 89,342 km² (112th)
45,495 sq mi
- Water (%) negligible
Population
- July 2007 estimate 5,924,000 (110th)
- 2004 census 5,100,981
- Density 64 /km² (131st)
166 /sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2005 estimate
- Total $27.96 billion (97th)
- Per capita $4,900 (103rd)
Gini? (2002–03) 38.8 (medium)
HDI (2004) 0.760 (medium) (86th)
Currency Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Time zone UTC+2 (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST) UTC+3 (UTC+3)
Internet TLD .jo
Calling code +962
1 Also serves as the Royal anthem.
Jordan (Arabic: الأردنّ, transliterated as Al-Urdunn), officially the
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Arabic: المملكة الأردنية الهاشمية), is a
country in the Arab World in western Asia that is bordered by the eastern
Mediterranean. It is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the north-east,
the West Bank and Israel to the west, and Saudi Arabia to the east and
south. It shares with Israel the coastlines of the Dead Sea, and the Gulf of
Aqaba with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
History
With the break-up of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, the
League of Nations created the French Mandate of Syria and British Mandate
Palestine. Approximately 80% of the British Mandate of Palestine was east of
the Jordan river and was known as "Transjordan". In 1921, the British gave
semi-autonomous control of Transjordan to the future King Abdullah I of
Jordan, of the Hashemite family.
Abdullah I continued to rule until he was assassinated in 1951. At first he
ruled "Transjordan", under British supervision until after World War II. In
1946, the British requested that the United Nations approve an end to
British Mandate rule in Transjordan. Following this approval, the Jordanian
Parliament proclaimed King Abdullah as the first ruler of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan.
In 1950, Jordan annexed the West Bank, which had been under its control
since the armistice that followed the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The annexation
was recognized only by Great Britain (de facto in the case of East
Jerusalem).
In 1965 there was an exchange of land between Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Jordan gave up a relatively large area of inland desert in return for a
small piece of sea-shore near Aqaba.
Jordan signed a mutual defence pact in May 1967 with Egypt, and it
participated in the June 1967 war against Israel along with Syria, Egypt,
and Iraq. During the war, Jordan lost the West Bank and East Jerusalem to
Israel (the western sector having been under Israeli control). In 1988,
Jordan renounced all claims to the West Bank but retained an administrative
role pending a final settlement, and its 1994 treaty with Israel allowed for
a continuing Jordanian role in Muslim and Christian holy places in
Jerusalem.
Trouble with Egypt and Syria
After the end of the Suez war, Arab nations cut off diplomatic relations
with Israel, U.S., France, and the U.K. When Jordan did not sever relations
with western powers, tension increased between Jordan and its Arab neighbors,
especially Egypt and Syria. Lebanon followed Jordan's course of action but
took it a step forward which resulted in American troops landing in Beirut.
Jordan hoped this would not happen, but King Hussein felt threatened by
Egypt and Syria when they united to form the United Arab Republic. Jordan
and Iraq then formed the Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan which broke
apart after Iraq's king was disposed. King Hussein believed Syria was
sheltering militants hostile to Jordan. Tensions would increase in further
years, especially after the end of the Six-Day War.
Refugees and Black September
The 1967 war led to a dramatic increase in the number of Palestinians,
especially from the West Bank, living in Jordan. Its Palestinian refugee
population — 700,000 in 1966 — grew by another 300,000 from the West Bank.
The period following the 1967 war saw an upsurge in the power and importance
of Palestinian resistance elements (fedayeen) in Jordan. The heavily armed
fedayeen constituted a growing threat to the sovereignty and security of the
Hashemite state, and open fighting erupted in June 1970. The battle in which
Palestinian fighters from various Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
groups were expelled from Jordan is commonly known as Black September.
The heaviest fighting occurred in northern Jordan and Amman. Syrian backed
infantry battled the Jordanian army in Amman and other urban areas. Egypt
worked with the global media to try and portray King Hussein as a corrupt
King slaughtering the Palestinian refugees. Other Arab governments attempted
to work out a peaceful solution, but by September, continuing fedayeen
actions in Jordan — including the destruction of three international
airliners hijacked by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and
held in the desert east of Amman — prompted the government to take action to
regain control over its territory and population. In the ensuing heavy
fighting, a Syrian tank force invaded northern Jordan to support the
fedayeen but subsequently retreated. It is said by some people, such as
Ahmad Jubreel, that King Hussein asked for help from Israel,[1] then Israel
threatened that it would invade Jordan if Syria intervened.[2][3] By
September 22, Arab foreign ministers meeting at Cairo had arranged a
cease-fire beginning the following day. Sporadic violence continued,
however, until Jordanian forces led by Habis Al-Majali, won a decisive
victory over the fedayeen on July 1971, expelling them from the country.
At the Rabat summit conference in 1974, Jordan agreed, along with the rest
of the Arab League, that the PLO was the "sole legitimate representative of
the Palestinian people", thereby relinquishing to that organization its role
as representative of the West Bank Palestinians.
Post Black September and Peace Treaty
Fighting occurred along the 1967 Jordan River cease-fire line during the
October 1973 Arab-Israeli war, but Jordan sent a brigade to Syria to fight
Israeli units on Syrian territory. Jordan did not participate in the Gulf
War of 1990–91. In 1991, Jordan agreed, along with Syria, Lebanon, and
Palestinian fedayeen representatives, to participate in direct peace
negotiations with Israel at the Madrid Conference, sponsored by the U.S. and
Russia. It negotiated an end to hostilities with Israel and signed a
declaration to that effect on July 25, 1994 (see Washington Declaration). As
a result, an Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty was concluded on October 26,
1994. Following the outbreak of Israel-Palestinian Authority fighting in
September 2000, the Jordanian government offered its good offices to both
parties. Jordan has since sought to remain at peace with all of its
neighbors.
Recent events
On November 9, 2005 Jordan experienced three simultaneous bombings at hotels
in Amman. At least 57 people died and 115 were wounded. "Al-Qaeda in Iraq",
a group led by terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a native Jordanian, claimed
responsibility.
On September 4, 2006, a 38-year-old known criminal, took a pistol to a Roman
amphitheatre in the capital of Amman and proceeded to shoot at a group of
Western tourists. One British man was killed and five other tourists
wounded, including a Jordanian tourist security guard. Later, in December of
the same year, he was sentenced to death by hanging.
Politics
Constitution
Jordan is a constitutional monarchy based on the constitution promulgated on
January 8, 1952. Executive authority is vested in the king and his council
of ministers. The king signs and executes all laws. His veto power may be
overridden by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the National Assembly. He
appoints and may dismiss all judges by decree, approves amendments to the
constitution, declares war, and commands the armed forces. Cabinet
decisions, court judgments, and the national currency are issued in his
name. The council of ministers, led by a prime minister, is appointed by the
king, who may dismiss other cabinet members at the prime minister's request.
The cabinet is responsible to the Chamber of Deputies on matters of general
policy and can be forced to resign by a two-thirds vote of "no confidence"
by that body.
The constitution provides for three categories of courts: civil, religious,
and special. Administratively, Jordan is divided into twelve governorates,
each headed by a governor appointed by the king. They are the sole
authorities for all government departments and development projects in their
respective areas.
The Royal Armed Forces and General Intelligence Department of Jordan are
under the control of the king.
Legal system and legislation
Jordan's legal system is based on Islamic law and French codes. Judicial
review of legislative acts occurs in a special High Tribunal. It has not
accepted compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction.
Legislative power rests in the bicameral National Assembly. The 110-member
Chamber of Deputies, elected by universal suffrage ("one person, one vote"),
to a four-year term, is subject to dissolution by the king. Nine seats are
reserved for Christians, six for women, and three for Circassians and
Chechens. The forty-member Senate is appointed by the king for a four-year
term.
Kings of Jordan and political events
King Abdullah I ruled Jordan after independence from Britain. After the
assassination of King Abdullah I in 1951, his son King Talal ruled briefly.
King Talal's major accomplishment was the Jordanian constitution. King Talal
was removed from the throne in 1952 due to mental illness. At that time his
son, Hussein, was too young to rule, and hence a committee ruled over
Jordan.
After Hussein reached 18, he ruled Jordan as king from 1953 to 1999,
surviving a number of challenges to his rule, drawing on the loyalty of his
military, and serving as a symbol of unity and stability for both the
Bedouin-related and Palestinian communities in Jordan. King Hussein ended
martial law in 1991 and legalized political parties in 1992. In 1989 and
1993, Jordan held free and fair parliamentary elections. Controversial
changes in the election law led Islamist parties to boycott the 1997
elections.
King Abdullah II succeeded his father Hussein following the latter's death
in February 1999. Abdullah moved quickly to reaffirm Jordan's peace treaty
with Israel and its relations with the United States. Abdullah, during the
first year in power, refocused the government's agenda on economic reform.
Jordan's continuing structural economic difficulties, burgeoning population,
and more open political environment led to the emergence of a variety of
political parties. Moving toward greater independence, Jordan's parliament
has investigated corruption charges against several regime figures and has
become the major forum in which differing political views, including those
of political Islamists, are expressed. While King Abdullah remains the
ultimate authority in Jordan, the parliament plays an important role.
Governorates
Administratively, Jordan is divided into 12 governorates, each headed by a
governor appointed by the king. They are the sole authorities for all
government departments and development projects in their respective areas.
The governorates are:
* Ajlun
* Amman
* Aqaba
* Balqa
* Irbid
* Jerash
* Kerak
* Ma'an
* Madaba
* Mafraq
* Tafilah
* Zarqa
The governorates are subdivided into approximately fifty-two nahias.
Geography
Jordan is a Middle Eastern country, bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to
the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south and Israel and the West
Bank to the west. All these border lines add up to 1,619 kilometers (1,006
mi). The Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea also touch the country, and thus
Jordan has a coastline of 26 kilometers (16 mi).
Jordan consists mostly of arid desert plateau in the east, with Highland
area in the west. The Great Rift Valley of the Jordan River separates Jordan
and Israel. The highest point in the country is Jabal Ram (1,734 m; 5,689
ft), while the lowest is the Dead Sea (-486 m; -1,594 ft). Jordan is part of
a region considered to be "the cradle of civilization".
Major cities include the capital Amman in the northwest, Irbid and Az Zarqa,
both in the north.
The climate in Jordan is dry and hot, since the country is mainly desert.
However, the western part of the country receives greater precipitation
during the rainy season from November to March.
Economy
Jordan is a small country with limited natural resources. The country is
currently exploring ways to expand its limited water supply and use its
existing water resources more efficiently, including through regional
cooperation. Jordan also depends on external sources for the majority of its
energy requirements. During the 1990s, its crude petroleum needs were met
through imports from Iraq and neighboring countries. Since early 2003, oil
has been provided by some Gulf Cooperation Council member countries. In
addition, the Arab Gas Pipeline from Egypt to the southern port city of
Aqaba was completed in 2003. The government plans to extend this pipeline
north to the Amman area and beyond. Since 2000, exports of light
manufactured products, principally textiles and garments manufactured in the
Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ) that enter the United States tariff and
quota free, have been driving economic growth. Jordan exported €5.6 million
($6.9 million) in goods to the U.S. in 1997, when two-way trade was €321
million ($395 million); it exported €538 million ($661 million) in 2002 with
two-way trade at €855 million ($1.05 billion). Similar growth in exports to
the United States under the bilateral US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement that
went into effect in December 2001, to the European Union under the bilateral
Association Agreement, and to countries in the region, holds considerable
promise for diversifying Jordan's economy away from its traditional reliance
on exports of phosphates and potash, overseas remittances, and foreign aid.
The government has emphasized the information technology (IT) and tourism
sectors as other promising growth sectors. The low tax and low regulation
Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) is considered a model of a
government-provided framework for private sector-led economic growth.
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States[4] that went into
effect in December 2001 will phase out duties on nearly all goods and
services by 2010. The agreement also provides for more open markets in
communications, construction, finance, health, transportation, and services,
as well as strict application of international standards for the protection
of intellectual property. In 1996, Jordan and the United States signed a
civil aviation agreement that provides for "open skies" between the two
countries, and a U.S.-Jordan treaty for the protection and encouragement of
bilateral investment entered into force in 2003. Jordan has been a member of
the World Trade Organization since 2000.
Textile and clothing exports from Jordan to the United States shot up 2,000
percent from 2000 to 2005, following introduction of the FTA. According to
the National Labor Committee, a U.S.-based NGO, Jordan has experienced sharp
increases in sweatshop conditions in its export-oriented manufacturing
sector.[5]
Jordan is classified by the World Bank as a "lower middle income country."
The per-capita GDP was approximately $1,817 (€1,479) for 2003 and 14.5% of
the economically active population, on average, was unemployed in 2003. The
GDP per capita in 2005 is at $USD 4,200. Education and literacy rates and
measures of social well-being are relatively high compared to other
countries with similar incomes. Jordan's population growth rate is high, but
has declined in recent years, to approximately 2.8% currently. One of the
most important factors in the government’s efforts to improve the well-being
of its citizens is the macroeconomic stability that has been achieved since
the 1990s. However, unemployment rates remain high, with the official figure
standing at 12.5%, and the unofficial around 30%. Rates of price inflation
are low, at 2.3% in 2003, and the currency has been stable with an exchange
rate fixed to the U.S. dollar since 1995.
While pursuing economic reform and increased trade, Jordan's economy will
continue to be vulnerable to external shocks and regional unrest. Without
calm in the region, economic growth seems destined to stay below potential.
On the positive side, however, there is huge potential in the solar energy
falling on Jordan's deserts, not only for the generation of pollution-free
electricity but also for such spin-offs as desalination of sea water (see
Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC)).
Tourism
Tourism is a very important sector of the Jordanian economy, contributing
between 10 percent and 12 percent to the country's Gross National Product in
2006. In addition to the country's political stability, the geography
offered makes Jordan an attractive tourism destination. Jordan's major
tourist activities include numerous ancient places, its unique desert
castles and unspoiled natural locations to its cultural and religious sites.
The best known attractions include:
* Ancient sightseeing
o Petra in Ma'an, the home of the Nabateans, is a complete city carved in a
mountain. The huge rocks are colorful, mostly pink, and the entrance to the
ancient city is through a 1.25 km narrow gorge in the mountain - called the
Siq. In the city are various structures, all (except 2) are carved into
rock, including al Khazneh - known as the Treasury - which has been
designated as one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" by the for-profit
New Open World Corporation. Other major sites of interest in Petra include
the Monastery, the Roman theatre, the Royal Tombs, the High Place of
Sacrifice. Petra was rediscovered for the western world by Swiss explorer
Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812.
o Umm Qais, a town located on the site of the ruined Hellenistic-Roman city
of Gadara.
o Ajlun, famous for the Islamic al-Rabadh Castle.
o Jerash, famous for its its ancient Roman architecture, including the
colonnaded streets, arches, Roman theatres, and the Oval Plaza.
o Amman contains the Roman theater, in addition to several museums, where
one may find remains of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
o Al Karak contains an important castle from the times of Salah al-Din,
known as Al-Karak Castle.
* Religion-related
o Madaba, well known for its mosaics, as well as important religious sites
such as:
+ The Madaba Map.
+ The River Jordan, which is the river where Jesus Christ was baptised, by
John the Baptist.
+ Mount Nebo, where Moses was said to have gone to get a view of the
Promised Land before he died.
* Seaside
o The Dead Sea - It is the lowest point on earth, 402 meters below sea
level,[6] and becomes 1 meter lower each year. It is located near River
Jordan.
o Aqaba is a town on the shore of the Gulf of Aqaba with numerous shopping
centers, hotels and access to water sports.
* Other Tourist Sites
o Wadi Rum is a desert full of mountains and hills located south of Jordan.
It is popular for its sights in addition to a variety of sports that are
practiced there, such as rock-climbing. It is also known for its connection
to Lawrence of Arabia.
o Amman is a very modern city with lots of shopping malls, shopping centers,
hotels and an ancient Roman amphitheatre etc.
o Mahis with important religious sites, and wonderful landscape.
o Al-Omwia's Palace which is placed to the north east of Jordan, with
Islamic design
Influence of the Middle East conflict
The ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict, the Gulf War, and other conflicts in the
Middle East have made huge impacts on the economy of Jordan. The fact that
Jordan has peace with the surrounding countries, combined with its
stability, has made it a preference for many Palestinians, Lebanese, and
people from the Persian Gulf immigrants and refugees. Though this may have
resulted in a more active economy, it has also damaged it by substantially
decreasing the amount of resources each person is entitled to. Jordan has a
law that states that any Palestinian may immigrate and obtain Jordanian
citizenship, but must remit his/her Palestinian claim. It should also be
noted that Palestinians are not allowed to purchase land unless they give up
their Palestinian citizenship. This violence has also led to a rise of
extremism in Jordan. In November 2005, King Abdullah called for a "war on
extremism" in the wake of three suicide bombings in Amman.
Foreign relations
Jordan has consistently followed a pro-Western foreign policy and
traditionally has had close relations with the United States and the United
Kingdom. These relations were damaged by Jordan's neutrality and maintaining
relations with Iraq during the first Gulf War. Jordan has a well earned
reputation for usually following a pragmatic and non-confrontational foreign
policy, leading to fair relations with its neighbours.
Following the Gulf war, Jordan largely restored its relations with Western
countries through its participation in the Middle East peace process and
enforcement of UN sanctions against Iraq. Relations between Jordan and the
Gulf countries improved substantially after King Hussein's death. Following
the fall of the Iraqi regime, Jordan has played a pivotal role in supporting
the restoration of stability and security to Iraq. The Government of Jordan
signed a memorandum of understanding with the Coalition Provisional
Authority in Iraq to facilitate the training of up to 30,000 Iraqi police
cadets at a Jordanian facility.
Jordan signed a nonbelligerency agreement with Israel (the Washington
Declaration) in Washington, DC, on 25 July 1994. King Hussein and Yitzhak
Rabin negotiated this treaty. Jordan and Israel signed a historic peace
treaty on 26 October 1994, witnessed by President Bill Clinton, accompanied
by US Secretary, Warren Christopher. The U.S. has participated with Jordan
and Israel in trilateral development discussions in which key issues have
been water-sharing and security; cooperation on Jordan Rift Valley
development; infrastructure projects; and trade, finance, and banking
issues. Jordan also participates in the multilateral peace talks. Jordan
belongs to the UN and several of its specialized and related agencies,
including the World Trade Organization (WTO), the International
Meteorological Organization (IMO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and World Health Organization
(WHO). Jordan also is a member of the World Bank, International Monetary
Fund (IMF), Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Nonaligned
Movement (NAM), and Arab League.
Since the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000, Jordan was one
of the Israeli's allies.
Demographics
Jordan has a population of 5.8 million. Most of the Bedouin population
descend from the Hejaz.[7] or tribal origins and account for around 40-45%
of the population.[7] However, 50 to 55% of Jordan’s population are from
Palestinian origins, many of whom have been expelled from Palestine to
Transjordan and gained citizenship after the Arab-Israeli wars in 1948 and
1967.[8] The remaining small portion of the population which are estimated
to be around 5% come from different ethnic minorities such as Circassians,
Chechens, Armenians (13th largest in the world) and Kurds. Many Jordanians
are also of Turkish and East European descent, as many Jordanian expatriates
who reside in East European countries marry there.
The number of Lebanese permanently settling in Jordan since the 2006
Israel-Lebanon conflict has not been established, and is estimated to be
very little. According to Labour Ministry figures, the number of guest
workers in the country now stands at 300,000, just over half of whom are
Egyptians.
Christians form approximately 6% of the population and have 20% of the seats
in parliament.[citation needed] Most Christians belong to the Greek Orthodox
church (called "Room Urthudux" in Arabic). The rest are Roman Catholics
(called "Lateen"), Eastern Catholics (called "Room Katoleek" to distinguish
them from "Western Catholics"), and various Protestant communities including
Baptists. Christians in Jordan are of many nationalities, as evinced, for
example, by the Catholic mass being celebrated in Arabic, English, French,
Italian, Spanish, Tagalog and Sinhala, as well as in Iraqi dialects of
Arabic.
Since the Iraq War many Christians (Assyrians and Chaldeans) from Iraq have
settled permanently or temporarily in Jordan. Despite allowing them to
enter, the Jordanian government has not seen fit to declare them refugees,
which would enable them to receive aid from the United Nations. They are
considered "guests" and are not allowed to legally work or attend school in
Jordan. Many are harrassed and deported by the muslim citizenry and
government agents, as a result the Assyrians have to return to Iraq or
attempt to flee to a western country. [1]
The official language is Arabic, but English is used widely in commerce and
government and among educated people. Arabic and English are obligatorily
taught at public and private schools. French is taught at some public and
private schools but is not obligatory.
About 3 million people registered as Palestinian refugees and displaced
persons reside in Jordan, most as citizens. Since 2003 many Iraqis fleeing
the Iraq War have settled in Jordan; latest estimates indicate between
700,000 and 1.7 million Iraqis living in Jordan;[9] mainly in Amman, the
capital.[10]
Culture
The culture of Jordan, as in its spoken language, values, beliefs,
ethnicities is Arabian as the Kingdom is in the heart of the Middle East.
Although many people from different regions of the world have come to settle
in Jordan, like Circassians and Chechens, they have long been assimilated in
the society and added their richness to the society that subsequently
developed.
* Music of Jordan
* Religion in Jordan (Islam in Jordan, Christianity in Jordan)
* Sports in Jordan
* Restaurants in Jordan
* Art in Jordan
Art in Jordan is plentiful, there are many local artists, as well as Arab,
especially Iraqis, and those Arabs who live abroad frequently have
exhibitions in different art galleries in the capital. In addition to an art
museum in Jabal Luwiebdeh, there is Darat Al Funun, a very prestigious art
center that frequently holds exhibitions by local, Arab and international
artists. It is too in Jabal Luwiebdeh, but there are many other art centers
that too hold exhibitions which suggests that art is a vibrant aspect of the
capital
* Public Holidays in Jordan
Languages in Jordan
Arabic is the official language of Jordan. English is widely understood
among middle and upper class citizens. French is understood by mostly
business entrepreneurs and government officials. Armenian and other
Caucasian languages are understood by the Caucasian population currently
residing in Jordan.
Education
Jordan has given great attention to education in particular. Its educational
system is of international standards and its secondary education program is
accepted in world-class universities. Jordan now has the highest literacy
rate in the Arab World and it is still growing.
School education
School education in Jordan could be categorized into two sections:
* Secondary education, which consists of two years of school study, for
students who have completed the 10-year basic cycle. It comprises two major
tracks:
1. Secondary education, which can either be academic or vocational. At the
end of the two-year period, students sit for the general secondary
examination (Tawjihi) in the appropriate branch and those who pass are
awarded the Tawjihi (General Secondary Education Certificate). The academic
stream qualifies students for entrance to universities, whereas the
vocational or technical type qualifies for entrance to Community colleges or
universities or the job market, provided they pass the two additional
subjects.
2. Vocational secondary education, which provides intensive vocational
training and apprenticeship, and leads to the award of a Certificate (not
the Tawjihi). This type of education is provided by the Vocational Training
Corporation, under the control of the Ministry of Labour / Technical and
Vocational Education and Training Higher Council.
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. These programs include:
* IGCSE
* SAT
* International Baccalaureate
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.
Another source of trouble is the system used to transform exam results of
foreign education programs into the Tawjihi scale, which is a percentage out
of 100. Again, some see the system as fair and in fact over lenient with
non-Tawjihi graduates, while others see it as unfair.
Higher education
Access to higher education is open to holders of the General Secondary
Education Certificate who can then choose between private Community
Colleges, public Community Colleges or universities (public and private).
The credit-hour system, which entitles students to select courses according
to a study plan, is implemented at universities. At present, there are eight
public universities plus two newly- licensed ones, and thirteen private
universities plus four newly-licensed ones. All post-secondary education is
the responsibility of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific
Research. The Ministry includes the Higher Education Council and the
Accreditation Council.
Stages of studies
Non-university level post-secondary studies
Non-university and vocational studies are offered in community colleges,
access to which is open to holders of all types of general secondary
education certificates. The two-to three-year programme encompasses many
fields, such as Arts, Science, Management, Business Administration and
Engineering. As of 1997, all public Community Colleges are under the
supervision of Al-Balqa Applied University. At the end of the two- or
three-year course, students sit for a comprehensive examination (Al-Shamel).
Those who pass are awarded the Associate Degree / Diploma.
University level studies
* First stage: Undergraduate level
The universities in Jordan follow the English-American education systems and
are associated with many American and English universities. Bachelor's
Degrees normally take four years. In Dentistry, Pharmacy and Engineering,
studies last for five years. In Medicine, they last for six years, followed
by an Internship which lasts for one year. The Bachelor's Degree requires a
total of 126-164 credit hours, depending on the field of study.
* Second stage: Postgraduate level
A Master's degree is awarded after a further one to two years' study
following a Bachelor's Degree. It can be obtained either by course work and
a thesis (c. 24 credit hours of courses and nine credit hours of research),
or by course work (c. 33 credit hours) and a comprehensive examination.
Candidates should hold the Bachelor's Degree with "good" as a minimum
rating.
* Third stage: Doctorate
A Doctorate Degree is awarded after three to five years of further study and
the submission of an original dissertation. It requires, depending on the
subject, 24 credit hours of course work and 24 credit hours of research.
Candidates should hold a Master's Degree with "very good" as a minimum
rating.
* Teacher education: Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school
teachers
Basic school teachers must hold a Bachelor's Degree. Training of secondary
school teachers: Secondary school teachers must hold a Bachelor's Degree and
a one-year postgraduate Higher Diploma in Education. Training of higher
education teachers: They must hold a Doctorate (PhD). In some cases a
Master's Degree is sufficient.
* Non-traditional studies: Distance higher education
This type of education is offered at the newly-established branch of the
Arab Open University.
Lifelong higher education
Lifelong education is offered at public and private universities, public and
private community colleges, the Jordan Institute of Public Administration,
The Jordan Geographic Center and The Royal Scientific Society, as well as in
other institutions. Courses are offered in Engineering, Industry,
Agriculture, Foreign Languages, Computer Sciences, Managerial Sciences,
Secretarial Studies, Physical Education and subjects that can help the local
community. Courses last between one week and six months at the end of which
students obtain a Certificate of Attendance or Achievement. The
qualifications needed depend on the subject and level of the course. Some
are designed for specific occupations, in which case a work experience in
the relevant field is needed to attend such courses.
Official Universities
* The University of Jordan (http://www.ju.edu.jo/)
* Balqa' Applied University (http://www.bau.edu.jo/)
* Yarmouk University (http://portal.yu.edu.jo/)
* Jordan University for Science and Technology (http://www.just.edu.jo/)
* Hashemite University (http://www.hu.edu.jo/)
* Mu’tah University (http://www.mutah.edu.jo/)
* Al Al-Bayt University (http://www.aabu.edu.jo/)
* Al-Hussein Bin Talal University (http://www.ahu.edu.jo/)
* Princess Sumaya University College for Technology (http://www.psut.edu.jo/)
Private Universities
* Amman Private University (http://www.amman.edu/)
* Jordanian University of Applied Science (http://web.asu.edu.jo/about_us/)
* Philadelphia University (http://www.philadelphia.edu.jo/)
* Jerash Private University (http://www.jerashun.edu.jo/)
* The Private University of Irbid
* Petra University
Notes and references
1. ^ (Arabic) Aljazeera.net article.
2. ^ Black September at History Central.
3. ^ Jordan Expels the PLO in 1970, Palestine Facts.
4. ^ Jordan-US FTA.
5. ^ NLCNet.
6. ^ The Dead Sea, NPR
7. ^ a b Jordan, Atlapedia Online
8. ^ Jordan Demographics and Geography, Columbia Gazetteer
9. ^ Doors closing on fleeing Iraqis
10. ^ The New Iraqi Diaspora, Hii Dunia, January 2007
* CIA World Factbook
* US State Department
* Encyclopaedia Britannica
* National Resources Canada: Earth Sciences Sector
* npr.org
* atlapedia
* atlapedia
* columbiagazetteer
* macalester
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