Amman: Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah and EU Ambassador in Amman Christophe Chatzisavas engaged in discussions on Sunday to enhance cooperation, focusing particularly on the education sector.
According to Jordan News Agency, Mahafzah expressed appreciation for Jordan's partnership with the EU, emphasizing the Ministry of Education's ongoing initiatives to implement development plans and programmes aimed at improving education. He mentioned the current implementation of the BTEC programme in vocational schools, with ten specialisations set to be introduced by 2025.
Plans are in progress to include sports and healthcare specialisations in the next academic year to align more closely with the labour market's demands for skilled workers both regionally and globally. Mahafzah outlined the Ministry's priorities, which include teacher training, developing vocational and technical education, updating curricula, and improving infrastructure and communication systems.
Despite the challenges posed by regional instability and the influx of refugees, with Jordan currently hosting around 250,000 students from over 85 nationalities, Mahafzah reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to providing high-quality education for all children. He advocated for stronger coordination between Jordanian universities and their European counterparts to enhance collaboration in educational programmes and research initiatives.
Chatzisavas acknowledged Jordan's significant role in the region, especially in accommodating refugees and offering educational services under challenging conditions. He encouraged greater participation of Jordanian universities in the Erasmus+ programme, highlighting the commendable performance of Jordanian institutions involved in the initiative. Chatzisavas also invited Mahafzah to partake in future events and activities organised by the European delegation to further bolster cooperation and knowledge exchange.