Jordan School Construction & Rehabilitation Program

USAID launched a major school construction and rehabilitation program, the Jordan Schools Project (JSP), in 2006 to support the Jordanian Ministry of Education’s reform program. The project is constructing 28 new schools and renovating or expanding an additional 100 throughout Jordan. The program is proceeding in phases. Currently in phase IV, JSP is constructing 11 new schools throughout Jordan. Of the three independent packages, IRD is completing two, delivering eight schools with an overall area of 39,800 square meters (see tables).

 

These state-of-the-art schools will foster a better learning environment by meeting internationally recognized standards for classroom and laboratory spaces, with integrated instructional technology. All facilities will be safe, fully accessible, and will include kindergarten classrooms, playgrounds, athletic fields, science and chemistry labs, libraries, and computer facilities.

The Ministry of Education chose the sites based on its needs assessment. Currently, many of the students attend schools in rented facilities that lack the amenities the new schools will provide. In addition, the current schools are crowded, and administrators have had to use double shifts to accommodate growing enrolments. Once operational, the JSP schools will effectively end these practices.

These schools are especially noteworthy because they provide access to early childhood and special needs education, which are severely limited, particularly in poor and remote areas. The construction projects will provide additional socioeconomic benefits to the community – from increased job opportunities to decreased travel time and costs to access to the libraries and spaces for community meetings.

As of April 2012, the projects were around 70 percent completed, with construction scheduled to be substantially completed by the end of June, in time for the new school year.

The Jordan Schools Project is funded by USAID and implemented by IRD. It is scheduled to run through mid-2012.