Jordan Times
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Queen Rania hosts first meeting of World Links Arab Region
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Wednesday hosted the first joint annual meeting of the World Links Arab Region (WLAR) Advisory Council and board of directors.
The programme aims to improve educational outcomes, economic opportunities and mutual global understanding for youth in developing countries through the use of technology and the Internet.
During the meeting, attended by Elaine Wolfensohn, representatives of Syrian first lady Asma Assad, and Lebanese MP and chair of the education committee Bahia Hariri, the Queen said enhancing education was vital to bridge gaps, give people hope, improve lives and ensure stability throughout the world.
The WLAR Advisory Council was briefed on the progress of work during its first eight months in operation and discussed future plans after establishing WLAR regional offices in Jordan.
WLAR members then visited the Sweifieh Girls High School where they toured the
computer lab and discussed projects undertaken by students representing 11 governorates.
They also attended an e-maths class run by the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI) — launched in June 2003 by WEF's IT and Telecom Industry governors, to transform public education through technology. JEI has 35 private/public sector partners, of which World Links is one.
Minister of Education Khalid Touqan described World Links programmes as a model for public-private partnership for effective and advanced learning deployment in line with national efforts to advance information technology (IT) in the Kingdom.
He said through initiatives spearheaded by Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania to provide Jordanians with opportunities to excel in the field of IT, students are being given the right tools to facilitate their access to technology enabling them to attain the necessary skills and allowing them to compete equally in local and international labour markets.
World Links Jordan Coordinator Hala Thaher briefed WLAR members on World Links programmes undertaken in the Kingdom by the Ministry of Education in cooperation with Talal Abu Ghazaleh Group.
Teachers from Ramtha and Aqaba also shared their success stories and how World
Links had created an active network of teachers and students and changed teaching and learning in the classroom.
World Links is one of the JEI's 35 partners, who have been providing teacher training for student-centred IT learning to create interactive Internet-based collaboration between local students and World Links students from around the world. The Sweifieh School for Girls is one of JEI's “Discovery Schools” in addition to having a World Links programme.
Established in 1997 as an initiative of World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn, World Links has expanded to over 35 developing countries. Teachers learn to integrate technology into learning for improved educational results. These skills enable youth to participate successfully in the global knowledge-based economy when they leave school.
World Links Arab Region was launched in Jordan in 2003 in 120 schools with 20,000 students benefiting annually. WLAR is also launching similar pilot projects in Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Yemen in 2004, and restarting the projects in the Palestine territories. By 2006, World Links aims to have empowered over 1 million students in the Arab world.