Queen Rania's education speech

Apr 8, 2010, 12:11 GMT

Jordan's Queen Rania has urged for a "joint responsibility to improve education".

The queen - the wife of King Abdullah - was speaking yesterday (07.04.10) as she launched the third phase of the Madrasati (My School) initiative, under which more than 100 schools will be paired with different corporations.

The scheme aims to boost education by instigating renovations to create a better learning environment.

She said: "Education is what our youth need to build their future. It will always be, as it has always been, a priority in Jordan.

"Lately, a lot of the problems in our education sector have made the headlines. Yes, we do face difficulties, particularly the lack of belief that we all have a part to play, and a joint responsibility to improve education in Jordan.

"Improving our education is a holistic and inter-linked process; it depends mainly on dialogue, transparency and trust between the Ministry of Education, teachers, students and parents."

During the ceremony, Rania met with students and teachers of the schools involved in phase three, as well as sponsors and volunteers helping out with the Madrasti schools.

The queen and other attendees - including Prime Minister Samir Rifai and Minister of Education Ibrahim Badran - watched a short film which addressed the poor conditions in some of the schools set to be addressed in the new phase of the scheme.