Jordan Times
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Multi-stakeholders promote public-private collaboration for global education
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania joined
government and business leaders in Davos on Saturday, to highlight the Jordan
Education Initiative's (JEI) achievements and outline the value of increasing
public-private collaboration to expand its outreach.
"Jordan showed a special kind of daring four years ago, when we embraced an
experiment called the Jordan Education Initiative… Not because we were not fully
committed to educational reform — but because, to be frank, at that time in
Jordan, the idea of public-private sector partnership felt unfamiliar," Queen
Rania said at the Multi-Stakeholders Partnerships in Education session at the
World Economic Forum (WEF).
The JEI was launched four years ago as an innovative public-private partnership
designed to develop new approaches to teaching and learning, as well as creating
a nurturing and enabling environment of self-discovery and experiential
learning.
Queen Rania cited the achievements in Jordan’s 100 Discovery Schools "where
administrators are promoting student-centred learning experiences; science
teachers are using technology to bring virtual experiments to the classroom;
maths teachers are being exposed to new technologies themselves as they help
develop e-curricula; and educators who devise new Arabic materials are sharing
the wealth of their knowledge with one another through an online innovative
teachers' network."
Another testament to the success of JEI was when Palestine, India and Egypt
adopted the model.
"Employees from firms like Microsoft, Intel and CISCO are doing hands-on teacher
training, and private sector representatives are volunteering with INJAZ,
Jordan’s youth development programme, to mentor young people and teach them
practical skills like public speaking or writing a resume," the Queen said,
lauding the collaboration between the private and public sector.
Meanwhile, on Friday five young people joined the Queen and UK Chancellor Gordon
Brown for a frank panel discussion, where they voiced their concerns about the
state of the world and challenged the leaders to set up a global education fund.
"The fund should focus on three key factors: Quality teacher training, reducing
absentees, and smaller class sizes," they said.
Class sizes are a determining factor in quality education, said one of the
panelists. When one teacher can dedicate his or her attention to 12 students, as
is the case in Switzerland, that teacher can deliver much more quality education
than a teacher in Mali who must split his or her time, resources, and energy
among an average of 71 students.
The Queen agreed with the group, noting that in the past decade or so, jobs in
education have lost their intrinsic value.
"In terms of quality, we can upgrade facilities and curricula but the one thing
that brings all of that to life is the teachers… If you have quality teachers
that are committed, that are inspired, that can motivate their students, and
that makes all the difference. In Jordan, that's one of things that we're really
focusing on… it's about bringing honour and prestige back to the profession
because it has such a large impact," the Queen said.
The youth identified two pressing challenges in today's world: The need for
collective action to ensure quality global education and active global citizens
who strive for unity and diversity.
"We want to create generations that are socially responsible and tolerant," said
one of the panelists.
The British Council chose the five young participants —from Egypt, Mauritius,
Switzerland, Australia, and South Korea — in the Wisdom of Youth Panel as the
best representatives of youth issues from around the world.
Queen becomes UNICEF’s first Eminent Advocate for Children
By Linda Hindi
AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania signed an agreement with UNICEF at the World
Economic Forum on Friday to become its first-ever Eminent Advocate for Children.
"It is a fancy title, but I see it as a fundamental job: To do all I can on
behalf of child survival and education around the globe," the Queen said after
signing the agreement with UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman.
“Her Majesty Queen Rania has been a tireless champion for children. This title
recognises her steadfast commitment to creating a better world for children,”
said Veneman.
As Eminent Advocate, Queen Rania will work with UNICEF and other partners to
mobilise resources and develop policy to improve the lives of children.
"I believe that helping children is a basic human instinct… We all began our
lives as children. Many of us have boys and girls of our own… Children bring us
together. They remind us of what is really important in life. And, working
together, I know there is much we can — and must — bring to children," the Queen
said.
The role brings another dimension to Queen Rania’s global advocacy for child
protection, early childhood development, gender parity in education and women’s
empowerment, according to a UNICEF statement.
As an active supporter for UNICEF, and a member of the UNICEF Global Leadership
Initiative for Children, she is working to achieve the second and fourth
Millennium Development Goals: Achieving universal primary education and reducing
child morality by two-thirds by 2015.
"We can bring children cost-effective interventions for maternal and newborn
health — which could help save the lives of the more than half a million women
who die in pregnancy or childbirth each year… and the more than 4 million babies
who never make it to one month old," said, Queen Rania, who has worked on
countless initiatives in support of children in the Kingdom and around the
globe.
“She was chosen for this role because of her consistent support for children
globally,” UNICEF representative in Jordan Anne Skatvedt told The Jordan Times.
“When she speaks people listen… we are pleased and proud to formalise our
relationship, meaning she will become even closer in cooperation with UNICEF,”
she added.