July 19, 2004
King's Academy Press Release
Amman,
Jordan - His Majesty King Abdullah II will inaugurate the establishment of one
of Jordan's most ambitious educational projects to date by breaking ground
Thursday July 22 for the new King's Academy, modeled after Deerfield Academy in
the U.S. The new co-educational boarding school, inspired by King Abdullah's
own experience at Deerfield, represents a vision for education in Jordan that in
His words is "utterly progressive, utterly idealistic, and utterly optimistic."
One of the top priorities of King Abdullah II's ambitious reform agenda since
his accession to the throne in 1999 is modernizing and enhancing the quality of
education in Jordan and providing students with better opportunities. Jordan
already has one of the highest literacy rates in the region, and boasts a high
proportion of college graduates in the labor market. King's Academy, among
several other initiatives in various stages of planning and implementation,
represents a cornerstone in His Majesty's efforts to build on Jordan's
traditional role as a regional leader in education.
King's Academy will serve as a model and inspiration for the highest
international standards of educational achievement, and will strive to become a
training ground for the region's next generation of business, community, and
government leaders where, says King Abdullah, "students from all backgrounds
will learn and grow together to embrace personal and community values of
justice, tolerance, citizenship, and compassion." To ensure the diversity of
the student body, the not-for-profit private school will allocate of 15% of
tuition revenue for student scholarships.
Located in Manja in the Governorate of Madaba, south-west of Amman, King's
Academy will be predominantly American high school based, but will also
incorporate local culture, values and aesthetics-making it a uniquely Jordanian
endeavor. Construction will include the creation, in addition to
state-of-the-art classroom and housing facilities, of a professional-quality
theatre and auditorium, an impressive array of sports facilities, and a
technologically equipped library.
English will be the primary language of instruction, although certain subjects
will be taught in Arabic. Foreign languages will be offered and supported by
appropriate modern technology, and qualified, experienced teachers. Religious
studies according to faith will be compulsory. International Baccalaureate will
also be considered in the academy. As a boarding school with the highest
standards of personal and academic accomplishment, King's Academy will also
offer a full co-curricular program that will include opportunities in the arts,
athletics, leadership and community development, and community service.
The Academy will be the leading high school in the region, bringing together the
brightest young minds from across the Middle East, and is slated to open in
September 2006 with 300 students and will reach full capacity of 600 students by
2008.
*For further information pls. contact Mr. Gaith El Fayez, Communication and
Information Department. Mobile: 00-962-77-393222