activities are organized in the form of scheduled educational courses in professional fields such as commerce, industry, engineering, the arts and languages. The activities of the cultural centres complement and supplement the academic and vocational education that is provided and supervised by the Ministry of Education in various educational fields in the public and private sectors. Consequently, the activities of these centres have been expanded through the annual addition of new courses in which modem techniques, such as audio-visual aids for computer operation and programming, are used in a manner consistent with present-day requirements and the diversified nature of social needs. 37. The cultural centres began their activities in 1945 when the first centre was established in the city of Amman. Their activities gradually developed and increased until 1980. From 1981 to 1986, there was a marked increase in the number of centres, due to popular demand for their establishment in all the areas covered by the various departments of education. As a result, by 1986, there were 165 such centres at which 15,584 students were studying. During the academic year 1987/88, the number of students at these centres declined to 10,582 owing to the rapid increase in the number of such centres, the growing competition among them, their increasing emphasis on commercial as opposed to educational objectives, and the existence of similar activities (of a higher standard) at educational institutions such as Jordan's universities and intermediate colleges, the objectives of which are being furthered by other services provided by the Ministry. Higher educational facilities 38. According to the latest official statistics, more than one third of Jordan's population is studying at primary, preparatory or secondary schools or receiving optional university education at Jordan's four universities: (a) The University of Jordan, established in 1963, which comprises 14 faculties providing instruction in virtually every field of 
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on the development and activities of cultural centers in Jordan, specifically their educational courses and programs. The text highlights the expansion of these centers, the types of courses offered, and the number of students enrolled. It also mentions the existence of other educational institutions in Jordan, such as universities and intermediate colleges. This suggests that the primary focus of the text is on education, particularly in the context of cultural centers.

**Category**
Education