Transforming education: the power of ICT policies - Commonwealth ...

continued progress. Infant mortality is at 21 per 1,000 live births and child malnutrition is 4% of children 5 years
old or under.
Human resource development has been a key aspect of Government policy with a focus on a reduction in poverty
and unemployment and expansion of access and quality of preschool, basic, secondary and tertiary education. There
is extensive collaboration among the various government ministries to reach each of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) and expedite the target achievements. Integral to government policy are strategies to increase social
and economic planning on a regional basis (Governorate) including steps to increase local responsibility and
accountability within the context of decentralisation. Also integral is to incorporate technology to ensure a citizenry
that is competent to allow Jordan to compete internationally.
Economy
Jordan is a small, middle-income country that has faced severe repercussions due to regional political and security
issues. The Kingdom faces economic development challenges due to its restricted natural resource base, water
scarcity, limited oil resources, and a small domestic market. Despite this scenario, the Jordanian population has one
of the highest per-capita disposable incomes compared to other emerging countries in the sub-region. Economic
growth has been relatively steady, due in part to pro-active initiatives by the Ministry of Finance and other key
agencies. Jordan’s status as a foreign investment destination has improved substantially in moving its status from
fourteenth to fi rst among the Middle East Arab countries on the AT Kearney Global Index for Foreign Destinations.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competiveness Report, Jordan is ranked 50th out of 133 countries
in its 2009 Global Competitiveness Index, compared with 48/133 and 49/131 in the previous two years. Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) amounted to US $20 billion in 2008 and GDP per capita stood at US $3,421.4, which
represents a signifi cant increase from 2006 at US $1,700. 18 The Gross National Income (GNI), based on the World
Bank Atlas method, shows for 2007 a per capita rate of US $2,850 and a GNI per capita (PPP, international $) of
US $5,160. 19
Between 2004 and 2007 the Kingdom averaged an annual 7.7% economic growth rate. In 2008, the rate decreased
to 5.5% and further reductions are expected given the global economic recession. Future growth will continue to
depend on exports and construction along with continuing changes in structural reforms and debt consolidation.
Government net debt decreased from 88.5% of GDP in 2004 to 72.5% in 2006. In the same period external debt
reduced from 7.9% of GDP to 5.9%. More recent economic challenges are likely to have exacerbated these statistics.
Employment
Government policy is focused on creating more jobs for Jordanians and increasing their productivity to enable
further diversifi cation and economic growth. Given a 40% labour penetration rate, Jordan ranks as one of the lowest
in the region (67% males and 14% female). Annually, more than 60,000 citizens want access to the labour market,
thereby creating substantive challenges for the country. In 2007, approximately 19,000 individuals were employed
in the ICT sector. Annual job growth is approximately 1,500 persons per year whereas there are approximately 5,000
IT-related higher education graduates. There are various schemes underway to build higher education and private
sector linkages and partnerships to enable these graduates to be better prepared to enter the industry and better
equipped to function in a business environment.
Unemployment and underemployment are high, particularly among the young given that over one-third are below
24 years of age. Actual unemployment has varied between 12% to 14% over the past ten years with the highest levels
recently recorded. Government accounts for 30% of a total labour force of 1.4 million while micro-enterprises with
less than four persons employed represent approximately two-thirds of private sector business. Approximately 25%
18 World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Report 2009–2010, page 184.
19 Jordan at a Glance, World Bank Development Economics, Development Data Group, 2008.
96 | Transforming Education: The Power of ICT Policies