Jordan

National Policy

Numerous policies, strategies, and plans promoting and strengthening EE have been enacted in Jordan. These include: 

• Jordan’s Environmental Protection Law. One of the responsibilities of the Ministry of Environment, in cooperation with other parties, highlighted in this law is “coordinating national efforts aimed at protecting the environment including setting a national strategy for awareness, education and environmental contact, and to transfer, utilize and provide environmental data and take the measures necessary for that purpose.” 
• Jordan’s Third National Communication on Climate Change states that the “school curriculum in Jordan should be revised to include more climate change topics and materials.”
• Jordan’s National Climate Change Policy Adaptation Plan (2021) calls for the incorporation of climate change into education by “developing an enhanced, unified, common entry level education curriculum that includes new themes on climate change and environment.”
• The National Climate Change Policy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (2022-2050) includes an action list for how to integrate climate change into educational curricula at all levels.

EE in K-12 Education

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)’s Eco-Schools program was implemented in Amman and Aqaba in 2009. The Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan, which serves as the national operator of the Eco-Schools program, now works with over 200 schools in the cities of Amman and Aqaba. The program has further expanded to include schools in northern regions of the country. 

The RSCN has developed several approaches to advance EE among students outside of formal education environments through its flagship program, Nature Knights:

The Nature Knight Program is an innovative environmental education program that works with students to enable them to have a greater influence on natural reserve management challenges. The Nature Knight Program, which is also a Jordanian Junior Ranger program, has won various international awards. The program is divided into five cycles, with the vision statement “Children of the local communities around protected areas  will become crucial vanguards in the changing of community perceptions of the protected areas and commitment to conservation.” The program’s five learning cycles prepare the learner to be a specialist Nature Knight in one of the reserve’s primary duties. Program participants select an area of interest, such as being a researcher, ranger, eco-tourism officer, or education officer. This comprehensive program includes a unique curriculum as well as all of the tools/equipment required for field researchers to accomplish their ecological studies. The program aims to influence students' attitudes about nature and the environment as a whole, with the objective of changing their behavior in favor of nature. Participants in the program are considered ambassadors for the RSCN's environmental preservation and conservation mission.

Professional Development and Certification 

At the governmental level, Jordan’s Third National Communication on Climate Change and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2015-2020) present the need for quality resources and trainings for environmental educators.  

Organizations, such as the RSCN, the Princess Alia Foundation, and the Queen Rania Teacher Academy provide opportunities for teacher empowerment and professional development. The Queen Rania Teacher Academy’s Environment Education Program specifically prepares teachers to introduce various environmental issues into the classroom through hands-on activities.