Primary and Secondary Schools in Jordan

Jordan has a near-universal school system. According to UNICEF, more than 97% of children are enrolled in primary school, and boys and girls have had equal access to education since 1979. Pre-school is less widespread: one in five children of pre-primary age is not enrolled in kindergarten, and most of those who are attend private institutions. UNICEF also notes that learning outcomes in primary and secondary education still have significant room for improvement, and that Jordan hosts around 200,000 registered Syrian refugee children.

For international families, the choice is usually between the national curriculum, which leads to the Tawjihi, and private schools that teach international programmes, often in English.

How schools work in Jordan

Schooling runs from kindergarten to grade 12. The national school-leaving qualification is the General Secondary Education Certificate, known as the Tawjihi. It is the standard entry qualification for Jordanian universities and community colleges: the official Study in Jordan portal states that holders of the Tawjihi, or an equivalent qualification from abroad, can apply to higher-education institutions on the basis of their marks.

Private schools are licensed by the Ministry of Education, and many combine national subjects with an international programme. Two common models are:

• American high school diploma, often with Advanced Placement (AP) courses and standardised subject tests
• British system: IGCSE or GCE O-levels in grades 9-10, followed by A-levels in grades 11-12

Graduates of these programmes can ask the Jordanian Ministry of Education to recognise their diploma as equivalent to the Tawjihi. This equivalency certificate is required to continue to university or college in Jordan, and sometimes for employment. Some schools also hold accreditation from foreign agencies, such as Cognia for American programmes or Cambridge International Education for British ones.

Admission for international pupils

Private schools set their own admission procedures, but they generally ask for official paperwork that has been certified in Jordan. At the Abdul Hamid Sharaf School (AHSS), for example, the file for a non-Jordanian pupil includes a copy of the passport, a copy of a one-year residence permit, a birth certificate, end-of-year marks and a transfer certificate from the previous school, and a vaccination card for kindergarten and grade 1. The transfer certificate and marks must be certified by the Directorate of Private Education.

Certification depends on where the records come from. Papers from the United States go through AMIDEAST and papers from the United Kingdom through the British Council. Records from any other country, including Latin American and European countries, must be certified by that country's embassy in Jordan, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Examination Department of the Ministry of Education. Start this process before you arrive, as it involves several offices.

Costs

Private school fees rise with the grade. At AHSS, tuition for the 2026-27 academic year ranges from 1,650 JD for kindergarten to 4,530 JD for grades 11-12 in the British programme and 4,630 JD in the American programme. A 200 JOD registration deposit is non-refundable, fees are paid in two instalments (August and January), and two-way school transport for one child costs 630 JD a year. External exam fees, such as those for IGCSE, A-level or AP exams, are charged separately. When you compare schools, add up tuition, transport, books and exam fees for the whole programme.

How to choose

• Curriculum: national Tawjihi, American diploma or British IGCSE and A-levels, depending on where your child will go to university
• Tawjihi equivalency: check that the programme can be equated to the Tawjihi if a Jordanian university is an option
• Language: check which subjects are taught in English and which in Arabic
• Accreditation and licence: Ministry of Education licence and any foreign accreditation the school states
• Location and transport: bus fees can depend on the distance from home to school
• Total cost: tuition plus transport, books and external exams

Example: Abdul Hamid Sharaf School

AHSS, founded in 1980, describes itself as among the first private, coeducational, non-parochial K-12 day schools in Amman. It is in the Deir Ghbar area of West Amman and serves international and local pupils. Its American programme is designed both for pupils heading to American universities and for those who want Tawjihi equivalence for Jordanian universities; Spanish is among its subjects. The British stream prepares pupils for IGCSE in grades 9-10 and A-levels in grades 11-12, using Cambridge and Pearson syllabi. According to the school, it has held a permanent licence from the Ministry of Education since 2003 and its Cognia accreditation is valid until 30 June 2030.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Tawjihi?

The Tawjihi is Jordan's General Secondary Education Certificate, the national high school certificate. It is the usual entry qualification for Jordanian universities and community colleges.

Can an American or British diploma be used to enter a Jordanian university?

Yes, if the Jordanian Ministry of Education recognises it as equivalent to the Tawjihi. Ask the school how its graduates obtain the equivalency certificate.

What documents does a foreign child need to enrol?

Typically a passport, a residence permit, a birth certificate, school records and a transfer certificate from the previous school. Records from abroad must be certified by the issuing country's embassy in Jordan and by Jordanian authorities.

How much does a private school in Amman cost?

It depends on the school and grade. At AHSS, 2026-27 tuition ranges from 1,650 JD for kindergarten to 4,630 JD for the last two years of the American programme, before transport and exam fees.