An Overview of the Situation for Vocational Training

Vocational training is considered an important non-academic learning stream given that it enhances access of its beneficiaries to specialized work and economic opportunities. The number of persons with disabilities involved in vocational training is extremely low. Indeed, an overview of vocational trainings in Jordan indicates that, in 2007, the Vocational Training Corporation, which represents Jordan’s official training institutions, trained 401 persons with disabilities. Other smaller governmental and non-governmental training centres welcomed 80 persons with disabilities.  In addition, an important gender gap can be observed. Table 2 clearly shows the overrepresentation of men in the Vocational Training Corporation.

Table 2. Persons with physical disabilities enrolled in vocational training, 2007
Location Number of trainees
Total Men Women
Drivers Training Centre 187 127 60
Ain Al-Basha 164 128 36
Zarqa Female VT Centre 18 12 6
Ghor Al-Safi 14 4 10
Jarash 5 2 3
Madaba 5 0 5
Moab 5 5 0
Abu Nseir 2 2 0
Petra 1 0 1
Jordan 401 280 121

Source: Vocational Training Corporation, which is available at: http://www.vtc.gov.jo/.

Table 3 lists other institutions involved in vocational training for persons with disabilities in Jordan breaking down the number of graduates by gender. In some cases, the access of men to vocational training is up to seven times higher than that of women. 

Table 3.  Graduates from other vocational training institutions 
Institution Gender 2005 2006 2007
Ministry of Social Development: Vocational Training Centre, Russaifa Men 35 36 31
Women 4 8 4
Ministry of Social Development: Vocational Training Centre, Irbid Men 20 23 15
Women 12 15 11
Disabled Girls Society Women 2 2 5
Jordanian Association for Physically Disabled Persons Men 9 11 10
Women 7 5 4

Source: Ministry of Social Development in Jordan.