Students protest shift to one-session Tawjihi

AMMAN — Around 200 students on Sunday gathered near the First Zarqa Educational Directorate, to protest against the Ministry of Education's plan to hold the General Secondary Certificate Examination (Tawjihi) once every academic year, instead of two sessions. 

Khalil Abu Al Asal, director of the First Zarqa Educational Directorate, told protesters the decision is still under consideration and deliberation, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Some students in Jerash also protested against the decision, calling on the ministry to cancel it. 

Jerash Education Director Mahmoud Shihab met with the students and stressed that their demands would be referred to the ministry for consideration, Petra added.

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Mohammad Thneibat on Sunday reiterated that the aim of holding Tawjihi once a year is to make it easier for students, Petra reported.

He made his remarks during a talk with 11th grade students who were protesting in front of the Education Ministry against the decision.

Thneibat said if the decision is implemented, students will sit for seven exams only, not 10 or more as they do now with the two-session system, noting that only six subjects will be accredited in the final score. 

He added that those who fail will have the chance to retake the exam after four months.

The current two-session system was adopted in 2001, before which Tawjihi exams where held once a year.

Students' scores in Tawjihi are the main factor that decides the university they can apply to and in which specialty they can major.