Jordan Times
Thursday, May 28, 1998
Majali urges ministry to decentralise school management
AMMAN (Petra) — Prime Minister Abdul Salam Majali Wednesday called
on the Ministry of Education to begin decentralising the management of its schools in the
country's governorates.
Dr. Majali, who was speaking during a meeting of the ministry's planning committee, asked
that a special committee be formed to draw up plans to reduce the burden on the ministry,
which is the central authority.
The prime minister underlined the need for schools to organise open meetings for students,
teachers and supervisors with principals at least one hour every week to discuss
extracurricular activities and engage in dialogue about education issues.
Principals and teachers should have greater authority as this would help them improve
their performance, added the prime minister. He also urged the ministry to conduct surveys
to determine the actual needs of teachers.
Minister of Education Mohammad Hamdan, who chaired the meeting, briefed Dr. Majali on
preparations for the next school year and the ministry's research work.
The committee's discussions focused on a study compiled by the ministry regarding the
authority and responsibilities of secondary school principals and the problems they
encounter.
Other topics discussed at the meeting included make-up examinations for students who fail
classes and weaknesses in the present educational system.