AMMAN — A
national survey conducted by the Amman-based Al-Quds Center for Political
Studies found that the difficult economic situation was the reason 80 percent
of young Jordanian men dropped the dream of pursuing higher education.
اضافة اعلان
Bad academic
achievement was the second obstacle, according to the study, whose findings
also show that 71.9 percent of respondents consider a university degree to be
important, while 26.9 percent see it “unnecessary”.
Access to better
job opportunities was the reason 63.5 percent of the sample said it is
necessary to obtain a university degree; 25.1 percent believe a university
degree gives them a prestigious social status.
About 22.1 percent
of those who did not complete their university education blamed their poor
academic achievements, according to the study, whose authors say that this
particular finding raises the issue of the need for effective remedial programs
and counseling for these students.
Economist Jawad
Al-Anani said that that there is a large surplus of students and graduates in
many majors because acquiring higher education has become a pattern, and urged
reconsidering education policymaking, to steer school graduates toward
education needed in the labor market.
Anani said that
the study underlines the need to re-orientate education, stressing that no more
than 25 percent of high school graduates should enroll in universities. For the
rest, he said, studying for four years is a waste of time.
Anani said that
young people today may be more rational than policymakers themselves, adding
that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Higher Education to prioritize
the development of an appropriate plan for manpower.
Professor of
sociology at the University of Jordan, Hassan Khozahe, said that while many
young people cannot afford college due to the economic situation, university
degree holders are struggling with unemployment.
Khozahe added that
young people “suffer disappointment, tension, and frustration due to the
economic situation”, and that a degree is no longer the means to start a career
and build a life. As a result, the cost of education has become an economic
burden for students and their families because there is no return on this
investment.
Khozahe stressed
that the worst manifestation of this issue is the bleak outlook toward
education and universities, which have become a factor pushing the unemployment
rate upward.
He said that the
difficult economic situation weighs on young people and on the heads of the
families, and makes them feel helpless. As a result, young people may reach a
mental state where they lose hope and develop sociopathic attitudes toward
society, noting that 66 percent of crimes in Jordan are driven by economic
motives.
He also said that
“there are justifiable fears that uneducated or unemployed youth may engage in
violence”.
Ghaith Abu Zaid is
studying accounting in the second year. He said he will not be able to complete
his studies because of the economic situation.
“I believe it is
no longer necessary. My brothers have already graduated and all are still
unemployed and a burden on the family.”
Abu Zaid said that he
might change track and consider vocational education, learn a trade and avoid
the destiny of his siblings.
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