Khaberni - Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan sponsored, on this Sunday, the annual honoring ceremony for teachers organized by the Ministry of Education in celebration of World Teacher's Day.
During the ceremony, the Prime Minister honored a group of teachers and school principals, in appreciation of their efforts and significant contributions in the field of education.
Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, the Minister of Education, said in his speech during the ceremony: "Today, we stand in loyalty and appreciation for all the teachers who have dedicated themselves to building human beings, instilling values, and shaping high ideals in this beloved country," reaffirming the commitment to remain faithful to the teacher's mission, supporting their path towards an education befitting our country under the leadership of the first teacher, His Majesty King Abdullah II.
Dr. Mahafzah pointed out that in order to return even a small part of the gratitude our teachers deserve, which cannot be denied by anyone, the government, under the direct guidance and support from the Prime Minister, initiated a series of measures beneficial to teachers, including offering them land at half price in various regions of the kingdom and will continue to do so.
He added that the government has disbursed emergency advances to everyone who applied, and doubled the percentage of the royal honor for teachers' children in higher education institutions from five percent to ten percent starting from the current academic year and will also allocate five percent of the total grants and loans offered by the Student Support Fund to teachers' children at universities, as well as doubling the number of Hajj missions allocated for the Ministry of Education from sixty to one hundred and twenty.
He mentioned that there will be work on maintaining teachers' clubs and improving their services and building teachers' clubs in provinces where there are none.
Dr. Mahafzah emphasized that the ministry, believing in the pivotal role of the teacher, has placed them at the heart of educational policies: training, qualification, support, empowerment, motivation, and appreciation. He noted that teacher training has been prioritized before and during service, along with curriculum development and creating suitable school environments through the expansion in building school facilities and class additions, in order to bring about a qualitative shift in the education sector in Jordan in the coming years, reflecting a clear vision towards comprehensive and sustainable educational development.
He also pointed out that the ministry has expanded programs for kindergartens since early childhood is the actual start of any effective education, along with tangible steps in the field of inclusive education.
Regarding assessment, Dr. Mahafzah explained that the high school examination has undergone a comprehensive development reflecting the shift towards skill assessment and promoting a deeper and life-connected education.
In response to the demands of the labor market, there has been an expansion in vocational and technical education specializations, not only to bridge the gaps but also to create promising opportunities for our children, and equip them with skills that qualify them for a more competitive and innovative future.
He added that in times of ongoing transformations and a world where the pace of knowledge accelerates and educational concepts change from rote learning to creativity, from memorization to critical thinking and problem-solving, and from traditional classrooms to open digital learning spaces, the teacher remains the core of the educational process, the compass of change, and the leader of educational reform.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Mahafzah addressed the working teachers, stating that they are role models, live in the conscience, and are the true guardians of the future, and it is our collective duty to protect their dignity and elevate their status, not just with words alone but with actions.
He also paid tribute to the retired teachers who have spent their lives serving generations, planting goodness in silence, and leaving indelible lines of light in the nation.
The ceremony, held at the Royal Cultural Center and attended by several ministers, educational officials, and members of the educational family, included artistic activities celebrating World Teacher's Day featuring a video presentation titled "Window of Giving" which reflects a real story of the positive impact made by teachers on students' lives, and a song titled "My Teacher, O Master of Light."
