Ministry of Education holds Joint Annual Review Meeting (JARM) with Partners on the Education Strategic Plan

Under the Patronage ofthe Minister of Education, H.E. Prof. Azmi Mahafzah, the Ministry of Education (MoE) kicked-off a two-day joint review of the progress made in 2023 for the implementation of its Education Strategic Plan (ESP) with education stakeholders and partners.

Ahead of the JARM, the MoE has released its annual ESP report for 2023. The report aims to inform strategic planning for 2024/2025 and serves as the foundation for discussions during the two-day event, outlining progress, challenges and recommendations across all six ESP domains (Early Childhood Education and Development, Access and Equity, System Strengthening, Quality, Human Resources, and Vocational Education). It also addresses education financing, partnership and coordination, and gender.

In His Excellency's opening remarks, the Minister of Education, Dr. Azmi Muhafza, stressed that the ESP is well in line with the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, and aims at improving educational outcomes, quality, and competitiveness in Jordan to ensure sustainability, development, and modernization of the educational system.

The JARM brings together key education stakeholders and partners, including representatives from the Royal Hashemite Court, the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Planning and International Coordination, education sector partners and stakeholders.

MoE staff and education stakeholders are expected to discuss the progress made so far towards the ESP goals and targets, and collaboratively identify actions to achieve the Kingdom's educational objectives, in line with the Economic Modernization Vision, and ongoing public sector reform. Among those are the need to expand access to KG2 through expansion of current infrastructure, increased focus on inclusion in education, enhanced teacher training, improved learning outcomes through examination reforms, and pursue the ongoing restructuring of TVET for better learning to earning outcomes.

The co-chairs of the Education Development Partners Group commended the MoE for its efforts under the ESP, particularly emphasizing the importance of evidence-based planning and policy making, stating that they "remain committed to working alongside the Ministry to achieve shared goals and priorities of the Education Strategic Plan and the Economic Modernization Vision, particularly in strengthening the coordination structure."

The JARM also marked the reaffirmation of joint commitments by the MoE and its partners to the right to education for all, in alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 4, which emphasizes inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.

The support provided to the MoE for the 2023 ESP annual review is part of ongoing technical assistance from UNESCO, implemented through a Multi-partner Trust Fund supported by Canada, the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation (AICS), Norway, and Switzerland in support of system strengthening for the education sector.