Jordan Times
Monday, June 15, 1998
House endorses amendment to law on retired servicemen organisation
AMMAN (J.T.) — The Lower House of Parliament Sunday endorsed an
amendment to the law concerning the Jordanian Economic and Social Organisation for Retired
Servicemen (JESORS) stipulating that the government award the organisation priority in
implementing government- and armed forces-financed projects whenever possible.
JESORS groups retired servicemen with experience in various technical fields acquired
through their service in the Jordan Armed Forces.
JESORS, which currently runs a number of development schemes, can be of great help to
national efforts to promote economic and social development, deputies said.
The amendment stipulates that priority in carrying out projects should be given to JESORS
whenever the organisation's bid in terms of cost and specifications is equal to those of
other bidders.
Deputies argued that not only is JESORS capable of carrying out projects in accordance
with the terms of tenders it wins, but also that such a move expresses the Kingdom's
appreciation of organisation members' long and dedicated service to the country.
The deputies added that projects related to the work of the Jordan Armed Forces must only
be carried out by JESORS due to their sensitive nature and national security
considerations.
At the extraordinary session meeting, which was chaired by House Speaker Sa'd Hayel Srour
and attended by the Cabinet, the deputies discussed the 1994 draft law on higher
education, which was referred to the House by its committee on education and culture with
several amendments. The House endorsed four articles of the draft and decided to continue
discussion of the remainder at its next meeting.
The draft law calls for the creation of a higher council of education chaired by the prime
minister and grouping chairpersons of boards of trustees of state universities plus a
chairperson from the board of directors of one private university to sit on the council
for two years.
Some deputies suggested that His Majesty King Hussein should name the council's
chairperson while others said the prime minister should retain the chair of the council
because such a measure would ensure that universities remain under government supervision.
Deputies also objected to the elimination of the Ministry of Higher Education and its
replacement with the higher council, as had been previously suggested. They said this
action could harm the interests of students from limited-income families and enable only
the rich to enjoy higher education.
But Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Information Abdullah Ensour assured the House
that the council's creation would not necessarily eliminate the Ministry of Higher
Education but rather that it would assume some of the ministry's activities.
Dr. Ensour said the creation of a higher educational council, a system adopted in Britain
and the U.S., should be considered a major step forward and is a technical measure
designed to promote higher education in Jordan.