Arab Educational Information Network

This study was conducted to identify the proficiency level of the graduates of the industrial secondary schools in Jordan as seen by the employers and their suggestions for enhancing it. The study sample consisted of 150 employers who were selected by the stratified random sampling method as follows: (50) from Ma'an Governorate in the south, (50) from Amman Governorate in the middle and (50) from Irbid Governorate in the north. The researcher designed a five-variable questionnaire of seventy-five items. To answer the first question, the researcher used the arithmetic means and the level of proficiency of each item, but he used the frequencies and percentages to answer the second question. The study came up with the following findings: The proficiency level of the graduates of industrial secondary schools in Jordan as seen by the employers was low in all areas. The employers put forward a set of suggestions to enhance the proficiency level and skills. Students should carry out projects under the supervision of their trainers and employers. Furthermore, students should take part in maintenance tasks within the school and the local community. Other suggestions included utilizing training in governmental projects. In addition, curricula should keep abreast of rapid developments in science and technology and school workshops should be developed to cope with modern developments and furnished with the latest equipment. Extending the period of field training and taking care of the educational staff so that they become qualified trainers are also important issues. The training skills of the students should be clear. The steps of skill application of industrial school graduates should be also clearly identified, the most import of which are as follows: graduates should carry practical training rather than theoretical instruction; the training should be on the job sites rather than in the school workshop; skills should be enhanced by training the students as much as possible. (Published abstract)