Amman:The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development has officially launched the 21st edition of the King Abdullah II Award for Physical Fitness, targeting the 2026-2027 academic year. The event took place on Wednesday during a ceremony at the Children's Museum Jordan located in Al-Hussein Public Parks. Dr. Azmi Mahafzeh, the Minister of Education and Human Resources Development, initiated the ceremony by lighting the award's torch, marking the commencement of its activities.
According to Jordan News Agency, Juma'a Soud, Director of the Ministry's Teachers and Students Affairs Department, highlighted the pride felt by the sports community with the inauguration of the award. He noted that the award, first established in 2005 through a Royal initiative, is part of a series of Hashemite initiatives aimed at supporting students and bolstering the ministry's role in nurturing future generations.
Soud pointed out the increasing participation in the award, which underscores its success over the years. He shared that last year saw participation from approximately 986,000 students across 3,179 schools, a significant rise from the 19,000 participants from 148 schools when the initiative began in 2005. The award has reportedly had a positive impact on students' health, behavior, cognition, and emotional well-being.
Moreover, Soud emphasized that the ministry regards the award as an educational and pedagogical pillar that fosters a safe and stimulating school environment for students aged 9 to 17. This is achieved under the supervision of qualified and trained teachers, adhering to the highest professional standards.