Mafraq: General of the Ministry of Education for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Dr. Sahar Shakhatreh, announced the replacement of 50 leased public schools this year. This initiative is part of a strategic plan to reduce dependence on rented buildings and enhance the learning environment with facilities that meet high standards.
According to Jordan News Agency, the statement was made during the inauguration of Zuhour Secondary School for Boys and Girls in Mafraq governorate. The school, constructed with financial backing from the German Development Bank (KfW), cost JD2.7 million. The project is supported by His Majesty King Abdullah II, international partnerships, and the ministry's budget, aiming to increase the number of schools and address issues such as classroom overcrowding.
Shakhatreh emphasized that the newly opened school signifies a significant advancement in collaboration with international partners. It meets comprehensive educational requirements and accommodates students from kindergarten through high school, with a capacity for 1,090 students, including 270 Syrian students. The new facility also allows the Ministry of Education to cease using the rented building of Zuhour Basic School and abolish the two-shift system, enhancing the school's environment.
German Ambassador to Amman, Bertram von Moltke, highlighted Germany's commitment to aiding the Ministry of Education in building schools across the country. The Zuhour Mixed Secondary School is part of a larger initiative to construct 11 new schools. Additionally, a program by the German government will fund teacher salaries in 200 schools for Syrian students attending afternoon classes.
Moltke noted that the completion of the new school has eliminated the need for rented premises and ended the two-shift system, positively affecting students, including Syrian students integrated with their Jordanian peers during morning sessions. The facility features 28 classrooms, specialized labs, a vocational workshop, a library, and a multi-purpose hall, marking it as the second school in Mafraq funded by the German Development Bank (KfW).