Amman (August 17, 2015) – The Ministry of Education (MoE) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a state of the art tourism and hospitality training center at Al Imam Malek Jabal Al Qusoor Public Secondary School today. The training center in East Amman provides vocational education to Jordanian students who plan to work in the tourism and hospitality sector, and is a model for other schools with the hospitality stream.

The hospitality and tourism sector accounts for 14% of Jordan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and currently employs 50,000 Jordanians. Secondary school tourism and hospitality (fundukia) training centers represent the first rung on the career ladder for job entry and placement in tourism and hospitality careers. The USAID Economic Growth Through Sustainable Tourism Project is implementing a strategy in partnership with the Ministry of Education to reform vocational education in schools around the kingdom. The Jabal Al Qusoor school is the first school for boys to be renovated under this partnership.

U.S. Ambassador Alice G. Wells said, “We are working diligently with the Ministry of Education to create a dynamic program that equips students with the skills they need to find jobs and excel in their careers in Jordan’s hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality establishments.”

The Ministry of Education supported the renovation of two floors of the school, while USAID provided furnishings and equipment. East Amman’s youth now have the opportunity to study at a modern facility that includes training laboratories for kitchens and restaurants, a front office simulator desk, a housekeeping training suite, and laundry. USAID also trained teachers, supervisors and managers on the latest training methods, academic quality assurance, and program management. In order to ensure that students have access to careers in their chosen field, the USAID tourism project also developed a job access scheme as well as network agreements with local hotels and restaurants.

Minister of Education Dr. Mohammad Thneibat said at the ceremony, “The new training center will provide over 60 students with high quality education, thereby helping meet hospitality industry demand for 25,000 skilled workers over the next four years.” 

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