Amman – Jordan’s Minister of Education, Azmi Mahafzah, said the ministry is studying the adoption of facial recognition technology to monitor student attendance and absenteeism as part of efforts to enhance school discipline ahead of the upcoming academic year.
Speaking during a meeting on Sunday with heads of educational planning and vocational education departments at education directorates, Mahafzah stressed the importance of completing preparations for the new school year and ensuring that all directorates are fully prepared, particularly for both the academic and technical-vocational education streams. He emphasized the need for accurate and timely data to support informed decision-making.
The minister said the ministry is working with telecommunications companies to develop a system that would use facial recognition cameras installed at classroom entrances to automatically record student attendance and absences.
Mahafzah also revealed that the ministry has distributed an online form to ninth-grade students to allow them to indicate their preference for either the academic or vocational education pathway. Student placement will primarily be based on their preferences, followed by their academic performance in grades seven, eight, and nine. He added that each vocational class must have a minimum of 20 students to ensure fair distribution across specializations.
He noted that Jordan currently has 977 vocational education classes, with enrollment in vocational education rising to 17%. The ministry aims to increase that figure through enhanced career guidance and greater awareness among students and parents of the opportunities offered by vocational education, particularly given growing demand for skilled professions in the labor market.
Mahafzah highlighted that vocational education is provided free of charge in public schools, while similar programs in the private sector typically cost between JD 5,000 and JD 6,000. He called for maximizing the capacity of schools and requested education directorates to submit detailed projections of student numbers and class requirements within two weeks in preparation for the new academic year.
He added that around 2,000 university seats in engineering programs remained vacant last year, indicating strong higher education opportunities for vocational education graduates. He also pointed to related technical disciplines that offer pathways to university studies and employment, as well as opportunities available through military colleges for engineering graduates.
According to the minister, vocational education curricula emphasize practical applications and project-based learning to equip students with job-ready skills. Information technology, engineering, and hospitality were among the most popular specializations across the Kingdom.
Regarding school transportation, Mahafzah said the ministry has launched the first phase of its school transport project at a cost of JD 5 million, with approximately 10,000 students from both academic and vocational streams already registered to benefit from the service. He added that the program will be expanded as resources allow.
The minister also announced that the ministry, in cooperation with the National Center for Curriculum Development, will update English-language curricula for vocational education to better align with different technical specializations. He confirmed that vocational education teachers will be included in the Queen Rania Award.
Mahafzah further said the ministry will revise the agricultural specialization curriculum to incorporate biology, chemistry, and biochemistry, enabling graduates to meet university admission requirements for veterinary medicine.
He confirmed that students from UNRWA schools are eligible to enroll in vocational education and that the ministry’s vocational education regulations also apply to Military Culture Schools.
The minister stressed the importance of balancing student distribution across the four vocational fields, with no single field exceeding 30% of total enrollment. He noted that the health field currently accounts for 35% of vocational enrollment, while the ministry is working with education directorates and school principals to encourage greater participation in science and information technology fields in line with labor market needs.
The meeting concluded with an extensive discussion during which Mahafzah responded to participants’ questions and observations, while education officials reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the ministry’s plans and supporting both vocational and academic education programs.
