Jordan Times
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
King renews support for education strategy
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday renewed his support for a five-year plan designed to steer the country's education system to meet the needs of a knowledge-based economy.During a visit to the Ministry of Education yesterday, the King checked if the funding for the project had been obtained. Speaking to officials, he stressed that the plan would require close coordination between the parties concerned.
Implementation of the plan began last summer. Education Minister Khalid Touqan was then quoted as saying the major focus of the plan was on activation of scientific research, optimum utilisation of IT and telecommunications, and achievement of quality, distinction, creativity, integration, efficient partnerships, sustainability and decentralisation in education.
The development of education to best serve a knowledge-based economy is only achieved when educational policies, goals and strategies are readjusted to fit the new vision for education, Touqan said.
The five-year plan is part of a wider-scale Educational Development Project, which will be completed in 2008, according to the minister.
At Monday's meeting with King Abdullah, Touqan said the $300 million project has four components: Adjustment of educational policies through government and administrative reform, changing educational programmes and practices to ensure better quality output that is consistent with a knowledge-based economy, improvement of school environment and expansion in kindergarten education.
He said Jordan's is the first Arab education ministry to obtain the ISO 9001-2000 certificate in the field of quality management.
According to web sources, such certification requires that the organisation meet standards such as having the potential to make itself more cost-effective and efficient, greater consistency of products and services, powerful competitive tools to help businesses grow and prosper, and potential cost savings.
Touqan also briefed King Abdullah on progress made in the ministry's various projects including e-education, IT training and a plan to inject human rights values into school curriculum, among others.