Tawjihi to switch to single session after this year’s exams — minister

AMMAN —The Education Council, chaired by Education Minister Omar Razzaz on Wednesday decided to maintain the 2017-2018 Tawjihi (General Secondary Education Certificate Examination) in two separate sessions before switching to the new single session system.

The decision stipulates switching to the single session examination system as of  2018-2019 scholastic year, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

It will enable the education ministry to complete the preparations required to hold the examinations, including the study plan’s review, the reduction of the number of subjects, and the implementation of a complementary session for those who failed to complete all subjects.

During a press conference on Monday, Razzaz responded to the debate over the shift to the single session examination system.

He stated the ministry’s readiness to switch to the new system as of 2018, yet, highlighting the need to train teachers on the new Tawjihi syllabi and on reviewed teachers’ guidebooks. 

The education minister outlined the ministry’s comprehensive plan to improve the education system, in line with guidelines set by the National Strategy for Human Resources Development.

He said that the ministry is studying changes to the grading system, such as the use of weighted average patterns to determine students’ capabilities, and tasking higher education institutions and the Accreditation Commission to choose suitable majors for students.

The ministry will conduct examinations for third grade students as of 2018, in order to evaluate their reading, writing and maths skills and draft plans following the outcomes of the exams.