‘Marked drop’ reported in Tawjihi violations as winter session ends

AMMAN — Education Minister Omar Razzaz on Monday stressed the ministry’s commitment to improving the quality of education and building on previous achievements 

Razzaz made the remarks during a tour of two operation rooms for the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Tawjihi) at the ministry headquarters and the general examination directorate, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also expressed his appreciation for former education minister Mohammad Thneibat’s efforts in developing the educational system and procedures for controlling Tawjihi exams.

Razzaz commended the efforts of the ministry’s employees in guaranteeing the smooth running of Tawjihi exams, through cooperation and coordination with other relevant institutions.

He also called for maintaining a proper and safe environment for students during exams, and committing to regulations, which he said contributed to fairness and transparency for all Tawjihi students.

Zidan Alawin, the head of the ministry’s general examination directorate, acquainted the minister with the procedures used in the Tawjihi winter session, which concluded on Monday.

Alawin gave the minister an overview of marking procedures, how results were calculated and the “well-designed” mechanisms used for these operations.

He said this session saw a “remarkable” decrease in violations compared to previous sessions, with a total of 316 violations in all education directorates across the Kingdom.

Alawin attributed the drop to student awareness, good preparations for the exam and commitment to regulations as well as the ministry’s procedures in providing students with an environment which was conducive to sitting for exams.

The efforts of relevant national institutions, an awareness by students’ parents and the role of media outlets in supporting the ministry to hold the Tawjihi, all contributed  making this session a success, Alawin added.

Around 88,000 students registered for the winter session.

Exams were being held in 1,403 halls in 456 schools around the Kingdom, with around 13,000 teachers monitoring the exam.