Pearson and Jordan extend vocational education program to 2031

The five-year contract extension will continue Arabic-language BTEC Level 2 and 3 qualifications across 14 sectors in 362 schools.

Pearson and the Jordanian Ministry of Education have extended their vocational education partnership to 2031, covering Arabic-language BTEC qualifications in 362 schools.

Pearson and the Jordanian Ministry of Education have signed a five-year contract extension to continue a vocational education development program in Jordan through 2031.

The agreement was signed at the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in London. It extends a partnership first launched in May 2023 to support the reform of Jordan’s technical and vocational education and training system in schools.

Under the extension, Pearson will continue supporting vocational qualifications in 362 schools across Jordan. Learner numbers are expected to grow over the next five years.

The program offers BTEC Level 2 and 3 qualifications in Arabic across 14 sectors, including Business, IT, Health and Social Care, Hair and Beauty, and Agriculture.

Students who complete the program receive a BTEC certificate accepted by universities in the UK, the US, Australia, Canada, and across the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey region.

Vocational qualifications in the national curriculum

The Pearson and Jordanian Ministry of Education partnership integrates vocational qualifications into Jordan’s national curriculum. The program is tied to Jordan’s Economic Vision 2033 and is intended to support labor market needs and youth employment.

The qualifications are designed to give learners practical experience and routes into employment or higher education. Pearson said the qualifications were developed with educators, employers, and government bodies to align with workforce demand.

Dr. Azmi Mahafza, Minister of Education for Jordan, says: "The expansion of partnership through the renewal of our agreement with Pearson for another five years reflects our strategic commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Jordan, ensuring high-quality outcomes that contribute to our Economic Modernization Vision.

“This achievement coincides with the preparations undertaken to celebrate the graduation of the first batch of Jordan’s Level 3 BTEC students. This continued cooperation contributes significantly to bridge the skills gap between educational outcomes and the evolving needs of the local labour market, through effective alignment of curricula and competencies with workplace requirements. On behalf of Jordan’s Government, the Ministry of Education highly values this partnership with Pearson and considers it an example of fruitful international cooperation"

The extension comes as Jordan prepares to celebrate the first graduating cohort of Level 3 BTEC students.

Teacher training to continue

Pearson has provided in-country training to help Jordanian educators deliver the vocational qualifications. Under the contract extension, teacher development will continue as part of the program.

The training element is designed to support educators delivering the Arabic-language BTEC qualifications across the 14 sectors.

Jane Baker, Pearson’s Vice President of Enterprise Learning & Skills, says: "This five-year extension reflects the strength of our partnership with the Jordanian Ministry of Education and our shared commitment to expanding opportunity for learners in Jordan. By broadening access to high-quality vocational qualifications and continued teacher development, we are helping more young people build the skills, confidence and recognised pathways they need to progress into further study and future careers."

Pearson Qualifications Managing Director Freya Thomas Monk said in a LinkedIn post that Pearson was "proud to announce a five-year extension" of its partnership with the Jordanian Ministry of Education. She said the agreement would continue the vocational education program through to 2031 and support Level 2 and 3 vocational qualifications across 14 sectors, including "Business, IT, Health and Social Care, Hair and Beauty, and Agriculture."

Skills route through to 2031

The program will continue to operate across schools in Jordan as the Ministry of Education and Pearson expand access to vocational qualifications and teacher training.

The announcement does not disclose financial terms for the five-year extension or set out projected learner numbers for the period to 2031.

Pearson will continue supporting delivery of BTEC Level 2 and 3 Arabic-language qualifications in 362 schools, with the first cohort of Jordan’s Level 3 BTEC students preparing to graduate.