Amman, Feb. 27 (Petra)-- Rasmi Khaza'lah - Academic experts have described the decision to abolish the comprehensive exam for intermediate diploma students as a strategic and prudent step that paves the way for a new phase of genuine technical education aligned with modern skills and labor market demands.

In remarks to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), they said the decision takes into account students’ interests and evolving labor market dynamics, which increasingly require specialized technical education and young professionals equipped with practical knowledge and applied competencies.

The Director of the Unified Admission Coordination Unit at the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research said the move followed a thorough study that prioritized students’ interests and concluded that the comprehensive exam is no longer necessary as an assessment tool. He noted that students undergo continuous evaluation throughout their studies to measure their performance and ability to complete coursework successfully.

In light of the expansion of technical and vocational education, the Higher Education Council has encouraged public universities to establish technical colleges and professional diploma programs. It has therefore become inappropriate for one public university to oversee the comprehensive exam for diploma students at other public universities, a practice that does not align with the Higher Education Law or universities’ own regulations, he added.

Originally, the comprehensive exam was designed to ensure that diploma graduates particularly those whose General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi) averages did not qualify them for direct university admission were prepared to pursue a bachelor’s degree. However, the official said the exam has become redundant with the presence of the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission, which ensures that all higher education institutions, including community colleges and intermediate diploma programs, meet accreditation standards and quality benchmarks.

He added that abolishing the exam would incentivize students to enroll in intermediate diploma programs in professional and applied fields. In the past, some students opted to retake the Tawjihi to improve their averages for private university admission rather than enroll in diploma programs due to concerns about the comprehensive exam.

Professor Mohammad Salem Al-Tarawneh, Dean of the Technical College at Jerash University, said the decision represents an important step in advancing technical education, as it refocuses on the core mission of education equipping students with practical skills and hands-on experience throughout their studies rather than tying graduation to a single final exam.

He noted that technical colleges are fundamentally built on practical training and continuous assessment, making student evaluation more realistic and equitable.

Regarding the impact on the labor market, Al-Tarawneh said employers are looking for graduates who can perform and deliver results, not those who have merely passed a theoretical test. By giving students more room for practical training, applied projects, and direct engagement with the work environment, the decision is expected to enhance employability and help bridge the gap between educational outcomes and the needs of productive sectors.

He emphasized that abolishing the comprehensive exam aligns fully with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, which focuses on empowering youth, developing technical skills, increasing employment in priority sectors, and modernizing assessment tools in technical education as part of a broader effort to build qualified human capital that supports economic growth and responds to rapid labor market changes.

For his part, Professor Majed Harahsheh, Dean of the Faculty of Technical Education at Al al-Bayt University, described the decision as a significant step in academic modernization that removes both psychological and academic barriers that had discouraged students from enrolling in technical specializations.

He predicted that the move would increase enrollment in community colleges and technical programs that are in high demand in the labor market, particularly as public universities establish new technical colleges. This, he said, will bring about a positive shift in students’ and parents’ perceptions of technical education.

Harahsheh added that the decision reflects a serious and comprehensive transformation in the educational process, shifting focus toward practical skills and ongoing training instead of unified theoretical exams that emphasize memorization. This approach, he said, will produce graduates who are better prepared to meet real-world job requirements and more aligned with employers’ needs for practical competencies.

He also expressed confidence that the decision will strengthen trust among students and their families in the technical track, leading to higher enrollment rates in community colleges, both public and private, and contributing to the development of a skilled workforce capable of competing in local and international labor markets.

//Petra// MF

27/02/2026 21:43:34