Jordan has long placed education at the centre of its development, and the country now enjoys one of the highest literacy rates in the Arab world, above 98 per cent. Schooling is free and compulsory in public schools for children from age 6 to 16, and enrolment rates are high for both boys and girls.
The system includes public schools, private schools and international schools offering British, American, French and other curricula, concentrated especially in Amman. The Ministry of Education oversees the public system, while the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research supervises universities. English is taught as a second language from primary school.
Jordan has more than 30 recognised universities. The leading institutions include the University of Jordan in Amman, the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Yarmouk University, the Hashemite University and Mutah University, alongside private universities such as the German Jordanian University and Princess Sumaya University for Technology. Jordanian universities attract students from across the region, particularly in medicine, engineering and information technology, and the country is a recognised regional centre for higher education and research.