Jordanian Education and the Cloak of the Past
04-Aug 2019
A Journey from the Industrial Revolution to Today
The moment the Scottish engineer James Watt developed the steam engine in the mid-18th century was enough to change the present and future of humanity in an unprecedented way. Those who study history see this invention as the foundation of the development revolutions that followed—natural continuations of the progress humankind has pursued since ancient times.
Since the dawn of the third millennium—the “Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution”—our world has turned into a small village experiencing constant change. This new pattern of life has imposed itself as a necessity, one that nations must adapt to in order to ensure their continued progress.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Its Demands
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Its Demands This Fourth Industrial Revolution, sweeping across the globe under the slogan of reducing production costs while increasing revenues, includes many prominent scientific concepts, most notably: artificial intelligence, 3D printing, the Internet of Things, and big data.
For these elements to be effectively implemented, they must be accompanied by a well-planned revolution in the education sector—one that suits the realities of this era.
Jordan’s Historical Role in Education
Since its founding, Jordan has been an integral part of this ever-changing world. Not only has it adapted and developed within its regional, Arab, and global surroundings, but it has also been one of the pioneers in the region when it comes to developing educational infrastructure.
Moreover, Jordan has contributed to building educational, economic, and cultural institutions in many countries across the Middle East.
However, this once-pioneering Jordanian experience is now suffering from a clear imbalance and void. Since the 1970s, the educational system has been affected by numerous factors and circumstances that require deep, analytical studies to understand their causes.
Toward a National Roadmap for Educational Reform
The challenging path to adaptation must be linked to the need to move away from the traditional, reactive approach—responding to every action with an opposing reaction.
Instead, we need to start with a national roadmap to reform the educational process, one that involves all sectors of society: political, economic, and social.
To achieve this shift in a way that keeps pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the national plan must be based on several core pillars, including:
First: Mindset and Way of Thinking
We must work to change the prevailing mindset in Jordanian society that connects the old educational system to specific social goals. Education should be viewed as an opportunity to shape one’s life.
The traditional way of thinking in this area limits the development of creative approaches, leading many to lose passion and motivation due to a rigid view of success.
Success is often measured by completing education within a certain time frame or studying specific fields that falsely offer psychological, job, or social security—detached from the actual scientific needs of the era or labor market demands.
Second: Curriculum Development
There must be an immediate and comprehensive overhaul of school and university curricula based on scientific principles. This development is crucial to making curricula more modern, flexible, and interactive—moving away from rote memorization.
The process should begin at the elementary school level. According to many internationally recognized performance tests related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, there is a clear decline in the academic levels of school students in Jordan.
Updating school curricula and introducing modern ideas will positively impact Jordanian universities. After all, the output of schools is the input for higher education.
At the university level, we must shift focus from exams to bridging the gaps in scientific research, innovation, and all forms of critical thinking.
Third: Human Resources
All efforts should be directed toward attracting qualified Jordanian expatriates who can educate and develop future generations in the fields of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
At the same time, laws and regulations should be enacted to protect and empower these innovators.
Fourth: Public Administration
We must begin restructuring and merging institutions to create a fair and flexible administrative system—capable of initiating reform based on neutrality and competence, choosing the best people for the job while avoiding complex bureaucracy.
This should include clear accountability mechanisms and effective networking with the private sector and international organizations that have strong expertise in the field.
The Path Forward
From these points and others, it becomes clear that it is time for change. This must begin with networking and pressure from Jordanian youth on all institutions.
To enable this, we must focus on equipping young people scientifically and professionally through local educational institutions and connect them with their international counterparts.
By working on the pillars mentioned above gradually and over the long term, we can ensure the emergence of young, open-minded leaders capable of making an impact both locally and globally.