In the first year of Pearson’s partnership with Jordan’s Ministry of Education, over 15,000 students have achieved a Level 2 BTEC, helping to elevate technical and vocational education in the country, and bridge the skills gap in key industries.
Key takeaways:
- Since 2023, Pearson has partnered with the Jordanian Ministry of Education to integrate BTEC qualifications into the country’s national curriculum.
- The move helps to bridge the skills gap by equipping learners with industry-relevant skills that align with workforce demands.
- We celebrate over 15,000 students who have achieved Level 2 BTEC so far and look forward to many more to come as we add further BTEC subjects this year.
In May 2023, Pearson partnered with the Jordanian Ministry of Education to reform the country’s vocational education and training (TVET) system. The partnership integrates BTEC qualifications into the national curriculum, giving learners hands-on experiences to prepare them for employment and higher education.
Like many counties, Jordan faces a skills gap. There is a mismatch between the technical and soft skills employers need in a rapidly changing global economy, and the actual skills graduates possess. This has resulted in high graduate unemployment rates, with the impact acute in sectors like IT, engineering, hospitality, and business.
A student shares his BTEC experience at a celebration event in Amman.
Tackling the skills gap head-on
In collaboration with educators, employers, and government bodies, Pearson has delivered BTEC qualifications in Arabic and English that align with workforce demands. These equip learners with industry-relevant skills through applied learning in key areas like agriculture, business, hair and beauty, engineering, hospitality, and IT. Further BTEC sectors of creative media, travel and tourism, and construction are being delivered in the second year of the project, starting in September 2024.
Pearson has trained more than 1,700 teachers on how to implement the BTECs and conducted ‘train the trainer’ sessions for 185 Ministry staff across Amman, Irbid, and Petra.
BTEC students in action at a school in Jordan
Philip Hall, OBE, British Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan said: “Jordan’s forward-thinking approach to vocational education is setting a benchmark in the region. By embedding globally recognised BTEC qualifications into its national curriculum, the country is not just preparing its youth for the workforce of today but future proofing them for the demands of tomorrow.”
A moment for celebration
To mark a successful year of BTECs, and the 15,000+ students who achieved BTEC Level 2 Diplomas, we held a special celebration in Amman. Students spoke passionately about their BTEC experiences and His Excellency, Prof. Azmi Mahafzah, Minister of Education, reflected on the importance of our partnership: “We are delighted with the positive results from the first year of implementing BTEC qualifications. This partnership is crucial in shaping the future of Jordan’s workforce and providing greater opportunities for our students."
His Excellency, Prof. Azmi Mahafzah, Minister of Education for Jordan, gives a speech
Congratulations to all our BTEC students in Jordan. We look forward to expanding our partnership to help young people thrive in an evolving job market, and to help Jordan bridge the skills gap in the global economy.
Every year, BTEC serves one million learners and is recognised in more than 70 countries worldwide. Find out more about preparing your learners for a skills-based, future-ready career through our BTEC International offering.