Graduates of schools in Sudan, Libya and Turkey hold sit-in

AMMAN — Dozens of students and their parents picketed Parliament on Tuesday to protest against a recent Education Ministry decision not to accredit high school degrees from some schools in Sudan, Libya and Turkey.

“After failing the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination [Tawjihi], 300 students and I went to Sudan knowing it is a conflict area but because of the easier curricula,” Muhammad Dmour from Karak told The Jordan Times at the protest.

“These schools were accredited. That is why we went there, before our exams, some leaked questions got to the students, and afterwards, the minister decided to withdraw accreditation of my school, among others”, Dmour added.

Zaid Al Khatatme, a parent of two students who studied in Sudan, said the decision is “unjust”, noting that it will have a retroactive impact on high school certificates already obtained.

Officials at the ministries of education and higher education were unavailable for comment despite several attempts by The Jordan Times.

An official at the Jordan Teachers Association refused to comment on the issue.

Khatatme said students who graduated from schools affected by the decision have “no future”, claiming that “they will end up in the streets and become an easy target for extremism”.

Karak MP Mohammad Atayqah spoke to the protesters, saying work is in progress to address the issue. 

“We are trying our best to solve this situation, since the decision has a retroactive impact, we have a good chance to revoke it,” he said. 

“The students have to come half way to meet the ministry’s demand and the proficiency exam is a good way,” he said, referring to an exam that the Education Ministry requires students who have not received a certificate through a national exam similar to the Tawjihi abroad to sit for.