Jordan Times
Friday, June 11, 2004
'Youth and Education' fact sheet to be launched on Sunday
AMMAN (JT) — Approximately 90 per cent of all young Jordanians between 10-14 years consider education crucial to their future and as a means for better job opportunities. For them, education is an asset to acquire important skills.
These findings and more were generated from the
2002 Jordanian National Youth Survey and are captured in the “Youth and
Education” fact sheet, which will be launched on Sunday.
This fact sheet is the second in a series of six to be released this year,
according to a UNICEF statement.
The fact sheet has been written in a user-friendly manner with direct and
accessible information for all to read and use. It tackles different aspects of
adolescents' perceptions and behavioural trends and highlights findings and
recommendations in context to education.
“Jordan under its leadership, headed by His Majesty King Abdullah, should be
commended for its commitment and investment in its people as its most precious
resource. This investment has paid off with a highly educated population of
young people. The Ministry of Education's strategy of directly linking education
to a knowledge-based economy is a tool for creating job opportunities for youth
in Jordan,” said Anne Skatvedt, UNICEF representative in Jordan.
UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Education and the Higher Council
for Youth to promote skills, which empower young people to be active citizens,
and to be able to compete globally in this knowledge-based e-economy, the
statement said.
National youth policy development
The base line data generated from the Jordanian National Youth Survey is feeding
into Jordan's National Youth Strategy developed in partnership with the Higher
Council for Youth and the United Nations Development Programme. One of the
themes of this youth policy is youth and education.
According to the fact sheet, young people see the purpose of education in ways
that differ by sex: Boys believe education to be a means for better job
opportunities, followed by a way to better understand problems, followed by the
belief in the value of education. Girls, on the other hand, primarily value
education in itself, then they see it as a way to better understand problems,
followed by the means for job opportunities and to achieve self-confidence.
Data indicates that more girls than boys, aged 15-19 years, are enrolled in
schools in the Kingdom. It is worth noting that the high enrolment rates of
girls in basic education are not translated in the participation of young girls
in vocational training programmes and at universities.
Understanding young people
Jordan celebrates the official launch of the International Year of the Family on
Sunday under the motto of “a proactive family in a changing world.” Young
people, who have worked in the Adolescents Project with UNICEF, developed
messages to promote better dialogue in the family. This is one of the main
themes of the International Year of the Family. These messages have been adopted
this year to address families in Jordan. In these messages, girls and boys are
asking their parents to better understand their educational needs.
“They do not want Tawjihi to turn their homes into a state of emergency and they
do not want to be reprimanded if they do not achieve the 90 per cent averages
their parents want. They want to be able to speak, discuss and decide with their
parents regarding their future and education,” Skatvedt elaborated
Understanding young people for policy development
“It is important to understand the aspirations of young people as this can help
policy makers plan accordingly and attempt to change these aspirations into
reality. At the same time, it can also help identify areas where current policy
and opportunities may fall short of helping youth achieve their dreams,”
Skatvedt explained.
When asked to specify the highest level of education young Jordanians would like
to reach, adolescent girls more than boys, at all ages, aspire to a college
diploma or a bachelors degree. Statistics reveal that as young people grow
older, their wish to attend college diminishes for both sexes particularly boys.
UNICEF has been working closely with the Ministry of Education and the Higher
Council for Youth to increase adolescents' participation in social and public
life. Simultaneously, focus has been on addressing adolescents, their parents
and service providers such as teachers and youth workers.
“Education is a tool for personal development, change and enhanced citizenship.
I hope that the information provided by this fact sheet on youth and education
will give an insight into how youth perceive education, and stimulate a debate
to improve the scope and quality of adolescent participation in Jordan.”
Skatvedt concluded.