Education of Disadvantaged Children in OIC:
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with indicators like performance, training and results. However, it is just nominally done – the
implementation of all frameworks has only been partial.
Some of the current teacher training initiatives are being led by the MoE in conjunction with
non-governmental initiatives such as the Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA), the Jordan
Education Initiative (JEI) and the Early Grade Reading and Math Project (RAMP).
The Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Project (RAMP) 528 is a $48 million dollar project
funded by the US and UK that intends to train 14,000 teachers in 2,500 government-run schools.
The goal is to increase the percentage of Grade 2 and 3 students who read with comprehension
and do mathematics with understanding from 12% in 2012 to 55% by 2019. RAMP intends to
reach its goal not only through teacher training but also by improving learning materials and
engaging communities to participate in education.
528 NCHRD (2016)
Box 9 Queen Rania Teacher Academy supporting MoE’s teachers’ training
Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA) was launched in 2009 in partnership with the Ministry of
Education, Columbia University’s Teachers College (TC), Columbia University Middle East
Research Centre (CUMERC).
Goal. To improve the quality of teaching and promote excellence in education in Jordan by
mobilizing QRTA’s intellectual resources to maintain high standards in developing training
programs and reforming teacher policies.
What. QRTA has worked on several national and regional programs since its inception. Of
particular relevance in this section and in line with ERfKE goals, QRTA designed for the MoE a 6-
month Teacher Pre-Service Training Program and Certificate (TPSTPC) for teachers in Basic and
Secondary Education. QRTA also prepared “Guidelines for Training Providers” and “Guidelines for
the Program Accreditation Committee.”
Approach. QRTA utilizes methodical, evidence-based techniques to research approaches of
program delivery, collection of baseline information, result documentation, and comprehensive
assessment transference. Through TC and CUMERC, it has access to international best practices
and a large network of experts to contextualize them to Jordan. QRTA’s evidence-based approach
supports the Ministry of Education in reviewing and developing educational policies, and
enhancing the quality of pre-service and in-service training for teachers.
Follow up. Once teachers graduate from the pre-service training program, the QRTA teams
perform follow ups all over the country to gauge the relevance of the training and the practical
implementation.