Council of ministers endorses reforms to enhance government efficiency
The Council of Ministers officially approved the reasons behind the proposed amendments to the Restructuring of Government Institutions and Departments Law for 2025. The proposal has been forwarded to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for the next steps in the approval process, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported.
This draft legislation is part of a broader initiative to implement the Public Sector Modernization Roadmap, specifically aimed at enhancing the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development.
A significant feature of the amendment involves the consolidation of several entities: the Technical and Vocational Skills Development Commission (TVSDC), the Education Quality and Accountability Unit from the Ministry of Education, and the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions (HEAC). These bodies will be merged to form the "Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission (AQAC)."
The newly established commission will be tasked with overseeing regulation, accreditation, and quality assurance within the education and human resource development landscape. It will develop innovative mechanisms and practices that adhere to the highest standards of these critical areas.
In addition to restructuring, the amendment aims to enhance and reform the educational ecosystem in the Kingdom. It supports efforts to boost the competitiveness of human resources and align educational outcomes with the evolving demands of both local and global labor markets. This includes ensuring that educational qualifications match the skills and expertise needed in the workforce, integrating them effectively with academic knowledge.
Another important aspect of the amendment is its provision for more flexible leadership appointments at the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation and the Jordan News Agency (Petra). This flexibility allows either the Minister of Government Communication or an individual appointed by the Prime Minister to take on these roles, rather than restricting appointments solely to the minister.
This change is consistent with the overarching modernization project that encompasses political, economic, and administrative dimensions, while also addressing the fast-paced developments in the media sector. It aims to enhance the independence of media institutions, strengthen their role in conveying the state's media message, and align with best practices regarding media independence.
During the same meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan on Saturday, the Council of Ministers also approved the reasons for the draft Regulation on Legislative and Policy Impact Assessment for 2025.
This proposed regulation aims to institutionalize and strengthen the mandatory evaluation of the impacts of legislation, policies, and government decisions to ensure their quality. It stresses the importance of comprehensive pre-implementation assessments and follow-up evaluations after a designated period post-adoption and implementation.
This regulation is a key element of efforts to modernize the public sector and will establish impact assessment as a binding practice across all governmental entities.
The new regulation is expected to foster legislative stability, align with national strategic objectives, and harmonize shared priorities across different sectors. It will be applicable to all legislation and policies that have social, economic, environmental, or other impacts.
A dedicated unit will be created within the Cabinet Secretariat to assist ministerial committees, ensuring that government ministries and departments deliver the necessary studies, enabling decisions and recommendations to be informed by essential data.
