Ammon News - Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Azmi Mahafza, who also chairs the Jordan National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, said that Jordan, under the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah II, places a high priority on advancing vocational and technical education as part of its transition toward a green and digital knowledge economy.

Speaking during a high-level ministerial dialogue on "Skills for a Sustainable Future," held within the 43rd session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Mahafza detailed that the ministry, with government support and royal patronage, has introduced the British BTEC (British Technical and Vocational Education and Training) program as a global model for equipping youth with internationally recognized applied skills.

He noted that the program is currently being implemented in Jordanian schools to provide students with both theoretical and practical competencies, enabling them to join the labor market or continue higher education. He highlighted that the system’s flexibility and wide range of specializations, including information technology, agriculture, construction, business, tourism and travel, healthcare, early childhood education, and sports, make it well-suited to the needs of the evolving economy.

Mahafza pointed to ongoing initiatives under the Economic Modernization Vision 2023–2032 and the Digital Transformation Strategy, in addition to projects by the recently established National Council for Future Technology, which focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into education and enhancing human capital and skills development.

He underlined that the Ministry of Education continues to invest in training teachers and administrators, improving infrastructure through the establishment of workshops and laboratories, and upgrading equipment. The ministry is also reinforcing partnerships with public and private institutions to create effective training and employment opportunities for students.

The minister stressed that developing technical and vocational skills represents a cornerstone for achieving social equity and sustainable economic growth, noting that vocational and technical education is not an alternative route but a parallel path to excellence, innovation, and modernization.

Mahafza reaffirmed Jordan’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with UNESCO and partner nations to exchange expertise and develop national frameworks for skills recognition. He said such efforts aim to promote inclusive and innovative education that empowers youth to adapt to global changes in employment and learning.

The dialogue brought together education ministers from UNESCO member states and senior officials from UNESCO and other international and regional organizations. Discussions focused on advancing education and skills development to align with green and digital transformations and to prepare young people for the evolving demands of the global labor market through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Petra