Jordan Times
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Sound education system key to meeting challenges - King AMMAN (JT) - King Abdullah urged the education establishment to aptly shoulder its “historical responsibilities” and rise to the complicated challenges facing Jordan. In a letter addressed to around 1.6 million students returning to school today, to be read out during morning assemblies, the King said that education lies at the core of efforts to fight extremism and negative rejection of other cultures. “We are looking at educational institutions to protect Jordanians from sliding into” extremist and rejectionist thought and ensure that children are brought up in a way to exercise sound judgement and rational thinking. Students, the Monarch said, should be taught how to respect others’ opinions, embrace innovation and positive change. “We in Jordan are keen on achieving a revival and positive change and entrenching the principles of participation [in public life], justice, equal opportunity and tolerance,” the Monarch said. He also highlighted the importance of striking a balance between the need to keep up with the rapid changes in the world and consistency and stability in the students’ way in thinking, and balance between modernity and originality. A total of 1,581,090 students from all grades, including 134,340 first graders will head to the country's 3,189 schools today. The ministry said last week everything was set for a smooth school year after all the necessary preparations had been made. Officials said the ministry has recruited 1,000 new teachers, created new schools and was ready with a comprehensive plan to face the expected normal growth of demand on schools. More teachers will be hired throughout the year in response to emerging vacancies, especially in light of a surge in the number of students expected with the admission of thousands of Iraqi students into public education. The government has recently announced it would accept all school-age Iraqis into state-run schools after it dropped the residency requirement. The ministry has completed the construction of 45 new schools at a total cost of JD30 million. Of these, 37 are expected to be operational today, with a capacity of 33,000 students in all grades. The remaining eight schools will be received at the end of August to absorb 4,000 students. As per textbooks, the ministry said it has completed the printing of the majority of these books and they are currently stocked at the education departments' warehouses, ready to be distributed to the schoolchildren as of today.