Jordan News UpdatesA total of 52,012 students have been accepted at public universities for the first semester of the academic year 2021-2022, the Unified Admission Committee (UAC) of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research announced on Friday.
Meanwhile, the UAC said it will announce the names the students, who have the minimum per cent Tawjihi score and obtain the minimum score required for the desired majors, on its website on Saturday.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Urdun Jannah, a flagship low-cost domestic tourism program, is now offering trips to enjoy the Jordan Hot Air Balloon Festival which will kick off October 1st in the “Golden Triangle” area (Wadi Rum, Petra and Aqaba), organizers announced on Tuesday.
In the first day of the trip, tourists will visit the ancient city of Petra, spend the night in a camp in the Wadi Disi before attending the much-anticipated 5-day hot air balloon festival, which will also start on October 1st, according to a statement by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
In addition to attending the largest balloon event in Wadi Rum, visitors will be treated to a special air show by the Royal Jordanian Falcons team, not to mention watching parachutists take a dive in the sky from the balloons, as well as many indoor events and entertainment venues.
Trip costs do not include balloon rides, it said.
Source:Jordan News Agency
The National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) Tuesday called for promoting the right to access information due to its key role in promoting and safeguarding human rights.
In a press release marking International Day for the Universal Access to Information, the centre said that responding to individuals’ applications to access information would lead to increased transparency and help in combatting corruption.
Active participation in civil and political life and the management of public affairs require a smooth flow of information so that individuals can adopt influential positions, engage in public debates and influence decision-making, it pointed out.
This right, it stressed, would help protect economic and social rights through creating awareness among individuals and familiarizing with decision-making and policy-making approaches.
The NCHR said that the coronavirus pandemic came to emphasize the importance of free access to information to learn about the shortcomings and defects, particularly in the health and education fields, the distribution of social services and others.
It urged the speedy passage and enforcement of draft legislation on the right to access information.
Source:Jordan News Agency
Minister of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Muhammad Abu Qudais, stressed the need to develop university curricula plans to cope with the changing needs of the labor market and keep pace with global developments.
Chairing the first meeting of the committee entrusted to study outcomes of curricula plans in Jordanian universities for engineering majors, the minister stressed the need to strengthen Jordan’s higher education institutions’ cooperation partnerships and contacts with civil society institutions, unions and the private sector.
In a ministry press statement issued Wednesday, Abu Qudais highlighted the “large” gap between supply and demand in engineering disciplines, due to regional conditions and Covid-19 pandemic’s negative effects globally.
The minister also underlined the need to get acquainted with alumni credentials, capabilities and skills necessary to meet the labor market’s needs at the local, regional or global levels.
Lauding level of Jordanian universities’ alumni in the region, he said many made ” distinguished” performance despite the “constant” need for development and modernization to keep pace with “rapid” market changes, adding that professional skills and training are necessary prerequisites for employment.
Abu Qudais, moreover, stressed the importance of developing specialized plans that focus on the applied skills, in addition to acquiring professional certificates needed by the labor market, a sgeme that should be integrated in the university curricula plans.
Local universities, he said, should prioritize alumni, who compete globally, while marketing engineers’ expertise to foreign markets in the “best” way.
Source: Jordan News Agency
In partnership with the Ministry of Education, UNICEF launched the ‘Diagnostic Study of National Efforts to Prevent and Respond to Violence in Schools in Jordan’. The study provides evidence-based recommendations to protect children from violence and its long-lasting effects.
The diagnostic study comes as part of Safe to Learn, a global initiative to end violence against children in, around and through schools, so children are free to learn, thrive and pursue their dreams. To date, 15 countries have endorsed Safe to Learn’s Call to Action, with Jordan being the second country in the region, after Lebanon.
“Today’s launch of the Jordan Safe to Learn Diagnostic Study reflects the high commitment of the Ministry of Education and partners to unlock the multiple wins of ending violence in and around schools,” said Tanya Chapuisat, Representative, UNICEF Jordan. “These wins include improving students’ learning outcomes, improved investments in education, and behavioural change towards violence against children. But most importantly, it will help the Government of Jordan to reap the long-term benefits of education, and secure future economic growth.”
School violence, including bullying, both in person and online can be devastating for children. Its consequences include difficulty to concentrate in class, missing class, avoiding school activities, playing truant or even dropping out-of-school. This has an adverse impact on students’ academic achievement and future education and employment prospects.
Recent global evidence from the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children/ Safe to Learn and The World Bank shows that society pays a heavy price as a result of violence in and around schools, amounting to an estimated $11 trillion in lost lifetime earnings.
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Nawaf Al-Ajarmah indicated that Jordan is a pioneer among countries when it comes to preventing violence in schools, by adopting several policies, legislation and procedures to be implemented at all levels and include all parties of the educational process.
Dr. Al-Ajarmah further noted that Jordan is among the (15) countries that have endorsed the Call to Action to Prevent Violence in Schools adopted by the partners of the Safe to Learn Initiative, that was launched at the World Education Forum with systematic and advocacy objectives.
Dr. Al-Ajarmah stressed that under the educational role, the Ministry seeks to implement these objectives and promote positive practices to prevent violence in schools, as it is part of the state system. He further highlighted the distinguished role of the Ministry in partnership with UNICEF and other strategic partners in implementing the ‘Diagnostic Study of National Efforts to Prevent and Respond to Violence in Schools in Jordan’, as part of the global initiative that Jordan joined in May 2020. This initiative will complement efforts and motivate further work towards preventing violence and promoting a safe environment and positive learning.
The Government of Jordan has taken concrete measures in ending violence against children. Some of these measures include the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991; the implementation of a national programme “Ma’An” to end violence in schools launched by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF under the Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah in 2009.
Those efforts resulted in significant drop of verbal and physical violence. Between 2012 and 2019, the cumulative results of the Ma’An programme showed a drop in verbal violence from 33.4 per cent to 15 per cent, and physical violence from 20.9 per cent to 8 per cent. Moreover, the results of the 2017-2018 Jordan Population and Family Health Survey (DHS) indicate that between 2012 and last month of the survey, children experiencing psychological aggression at home dropped from 87 per cent to 76 per cent, and physical discipline from 66 per cent to 59 per cent .
“Violence in and around schools is a global phenomenon, which severely impacts educational outcomes and undermines educational investments. Jordan is one of the first countries in the world to undertake a country diagnostic on the issue. Making schools safe, non-violent and inclusive is possible, it is a smart investment and there are proven interventions to do it. We call for all governments, civil society organizations, communities, teachers and children themselves to end the violence that undermines education and make sure every child especially the most marginalized is safe to learn, in Jordan and every country of the world.” said Dr. Howard Taylor, Executive Director, The Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
The diagnostic study proposes a set of key recommendations to end violence against children. In addition to investing resources, the study calls for adoption, implementation and monitoring of laws and policies that end violence against children; strengthening national prevention and response systems to violence against children in schools; and changing behaviours and shifting mindsets to respect the rights of every child to develop and grow in a safe environment, free from violence.
The diagnostic study was funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. UNICEF’s work to end violence against children in schools is generously supported by the Governments of the Netherlands, Norway, UK Aid and the United States’ Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
Safe to Learn is a global initiative dedicated to ending violence in and through schools so children are free to learn, thrive and pursue their dreams.
The growing coalition behind Safe to Learn includes UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, the UK FCDO, UNGEI, the Civil Society Forum to End Violence against Children, the World Bank, Education Cannot Wait, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the Global Business Coalition for Education, Global Affairs Canada, the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack, the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children.
The End Violence Partnership is a platform for collective, evidence-based advocacy and action. Working with a unique coalition of more than 600 organisations we connect and convene partners to raise awareness, catalyse leadership commitments, mobilise new resources, promote evidence-based solutions, and support those working to end all forms of violence, abuse and neglect of children.
Source: Jordan News Agency
The Ministry of Education has set up an operations room in its center to follow up on schools readiness for the start of the new academic year.
“This step aims to communicate daily with education departments on the field, follow up on all comments received from students, teachers, parents and the local community, in order to enhance the ministry’s efforts to ensure the stability of the educational process at the beginning of the new school year, provide needs and monitor feedback,” the ministry said Monday in a statement.
The ministry called for contacting the operating room at the following numbers: 065662475 – 065692368 – 065699916 directly – and telefax to the operating room 5666492 – mobile 0791881439 – 0791881450 – 0791881434 – 0791881435 – 0791881436 – WhatsApp 0791881435.
Source: Jordan News Agency
Minister of Education, Mohammad Abu Qadis, said the ministry attaches “remarkable” attention to training pre-service teachers to raise their competencies and performance level, which emanates from the belief in the teacher’s “pivotal” role in improving the educational process in all its aspects.
Speaking at the inauguration on Thursday, of the technical workshop for the steering committee of the USAID Pre-Service Teacher Education in Jordan (PRESTIJ), Abu Qadis highlighted the Ministry’s keenness, through its strategic plan, to fill up all its needs of qualified teachers, who are “capable of bringing about the desired change” in the teaching and learning process.
Abu Qadis said the USAID program embodies the joint efforts made by the the Ministry, US agency and Queen Rania Academy and Jordanian universities, with the aim of raising teacher efficiency in the education sector by offering “appropriate” training, stressing the “significant” impact of this program in achieving this goal.
Abu Qadis also pointed to the ministry’s keenness to “institutionalize, develop and sustain the program, by conducting studies to enhance the positive aspects and transform challenges, if any, into opportunities.”
The workshop will discuss integration of the USAID program at the national level, and ensure the quality of its outcomes, he noted.
The minister also lauded the USAID’s continuous support to Jordan’s educational process and praised stakeholders’ continuous efforts to make the program a success.
For her part, USAID Deputy Director, Margaret Spears, said the event constitutes an opportunity for partners to meet, think, anticipate the future and face challenges, pledging commitment to support the program, which made “great” progress in the past year.
To date, Spears announced University of Jordan, Yarmouk University, Mu’tah University and Hashemite University joined the program under this “distinguished” partnership and students will be enrolled at the beginning of the next semester.
Director of the USAID Program, Cameron Mirza, said the program, which offers a diploma certificate covering basic skills, will help establish a national education system to empower trained teachers to serve their communities, raise the level of education by using digital tools to enhance the student learning process.
Success of the program is of high importance to achieving education aspirations in Jordan, Mirza added.
Students’ enrollment in the professional diploma on next September 1st constitutes an important stage, thanks to the strong cooperation of all stakeholders, he noted.
Source: Jordan News Agency
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Education and Human Resources Council, EHRC, presided over the council’s meeting held remotely on Sunday via video conferencing.
At the beginning of the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah thanked students, parents, teachers, administrative staff, authorities and educational institutions across the country for the outstanding achievements made during 2020-2021 scholastic year and for their dedication and keenness to continue the education process at all levels, in the light of the current circumstances.
“I congratulate the highest achieving students and their parents for the excellent performance which came as a result of their hard work and perseverance and the cooperation between the families and the educational institutions during these exceptional times,” he said.
Sheikh Abdullah was briefed about the progress of educational authorities plans for the academic year 2021-2022, as well as the mechanism and efforts to ensure return to normalcy at school classes to enable the students to foster their skills and capabilities in a safe and healthy school environment. He emphasised the importance of adhering to the safety standards and preventive and precautionary measures.
He called for doubling efforts to encourage all workers at government and private educational institutions, parents and students to get COVID-19 vaccine for their safety.
Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, highlighted the national child protection policy in educational institutions, developed in line with Wadeema’s Law and relevant international conventions. He said the policy reflects the UAE and its leadership’s keenness to set the appropriate tools and procedures to guarantee child’s protection and welfare.
He also underlined the principles and objectives of the policy for providing a safe school environment, free of any forms of violence, through a set of processes to protect the children’s physical and mental health and to ensure that they have the highest cognitive, educational and ethical standards.
Jameela bint Salem Musabah Al Muheiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Schools Establishment , updated the Council on the implementation of the operating policy for the continuous education system during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting was attended by Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, Jameela bint Salem Musabah Al Muheiri, Minister of State for Public Education, Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Shamma bint Suhail Faris Al Mazrui, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, Secretary General of the Council.
Other attendees included: Sara Awad Issa Musallam, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge, Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority – Dubai, Dr. Muhadditha Yahya Al Hashimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Private Education Authority, and Muhamed Khalifa Al Nuaimi, Director of Education Affairs Office at the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation
The faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management at the Yarmouk University and the Irish Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) on Sunday signed an agreement to establish a joint bachelor’s program in hotel management.
The program is the result of the Yarmouk’s keenness to forge partnerships in teaching and training programs with specialised international universities.
In a statement, dean of the college Muhammad Shonaq said that the deal will provide an opportunity for students enrolling in the international program to obtain two certificates; one from the university, and the second from the DKIT.
Source: Jordan News Agency
President of Yarmouk University Nabil Hailat on Thursday discussed with a German delegation the possibility of establishing a German cultural center on the university campus, and implementing a German language and literature program in the University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Hailat and the delegates, including Regional Director of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Amman Benjamin Schumann and the Cultural Attache at the German Embassy in Amman, discussed means of cooperation between Yarmouk and various German universities and academic institutions, in fields of exchanging professors, administrative staff and students.
Talks during the meeting also tackled supporting Yarmouk’s Arabic language for Non-Native Speakers Department at the Faculty of Arts, which was established as part of the University’s strategic plan to expand by offering specializations that meet with the labor market needs.
The German Director Schumann expressed his appreciation of the mutual cooperation, stressing the importance of the grants offered by the DAAD in enhancing the skills and knowledge of the administrative staff and students of Yarmouk.
Source: Jordan News Agency