Amman, Nov 23 (Petra) – Administrative and Financial Affairs Secretary-General at the Ministry of Education Sahar Shakhatreh said Sunday that education remains the cornerstone of building capable, creative and competitive Jordanian citizens in a rapidly changing global environment.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education at the opening of the conference "Modern Perceptions on Education Quality and Lessons Learned: Realities and Future Visions," Shakhatreh said the theme reflects the ministry’s commitment to strengthening education quality in line with national standards, research-based evidence and the Jordanian experience, as well as in line with the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II and HRH Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, who regard education quality as a national priority.

She stressed that education quality and accountability are central pillars for the ministry, noting that reforming the education system requires a scientific approach grounded in research, experimental evidence, strategic planning and effective accountability.

Shakhatreh said the ministry, through the Education Quality and Accountability Unit, has developed a comprehensive quality assurance and accountability framework by updating policies, activating measurement tools and evaluation procedures, and building partnerships with national institutions. These efforts, she noted, have yielded tangible initiatives and projects on the ground.

The conference, she added, highlights Jordan’s experience in education quality and accountability, the progress and achievements recorded, the challenges encountered, and future visions aimed at boosting the effectiveness and quality of the education system. She reiterated that education quality is fundamental to building a prosperous nation and an advanced knowledge-based society.

Education Quality and Accountability Unit Director Nabil AHanaqata said education has become the cornerstone of societal development, nation-building and future readiness, adding that good education drives prosperity and fuels national advancement. He said the unit focuses on strengthening the capacities of educators by providing modern tools, continuous training and professional development, ensuring teachers and school leaders fully participate in the reform process.

Sylvie Pedneault, Education Sector Lead at the Canadian Embassy in Jordan, said the conference will address the challenges, achievements and progress documented through school visits conducted by the Education Quality and Accountability Unit. She noted that Jordan’s strategy to enhance education begins with school-level improvement programs, stressing Canada’s commitment to supporting the country’s education sector and contributing to shared visions for success.

At the end of the opening session, Shakhatreh honored the top-performing directorates across the three regions, which achieved strong performance levels in implementing the action plan for the Policy Guidance Report. She also recognized schools that achieved the highest performance ratings in the unit’s monitoring reports.

The session, attended by leading thinkers, researchers and education specialists, also featured a video presentation on the school and directorate evaluation procedures carried out by the Education Quality and Accountability Unit.

//Petra// AF