AMMAN —
Chairperson of the Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System
Samir Al-Rifai urged teachers to expand the horizons of Jordanian students by helping
broaden their thinking on good citizenship, away from politics.
اضافة اعلان
Al-Rifai’s call
came in a tweet published on his personal account to celebrate The World
Teachers’ Day, which falls annually on October 5.
“Greetings to those who shape the minds and
hearts of future generations,” Rifai wrote in his salutation to Jordanian
teachers.
“Today, as we enter
a new era of political modernization, and social and cultural development, the
teachers are responsible for increasing awareness of active citizenship, a
programmatic work for the new generation”, he said.
He said the
students should be encouraged to receive the information “without any
influence, personal attitudes, and without politicization or partisanship”.
“May God enlighten
your path and save you.
#TeachersDay”, the tweet read.
The tweet was interpreted as an endorsement of
the government’s position before the Jordanian Teacher’s Syndicate (JTS) was
formed. Some government officials were anxious that JTS members could influence
the political thinking of young Jordanians.
A government tiff
with JTS abated only two months ago following three years of running tensions.
At the height of
tension, the government said the syndicate was “following the policies of bullying
and dictating”.
JTS spokesperson
Nour Al-Deen Nadeem told
Jordan News that although teachers must be
objective, they can be interested in political and social life in general, but
“without prejudice”.
He stressed that
the syndicate, which was founded as a professional association, had problems
with some government circles. “But it was a labor dispute, not a political
one,” he asserted.
“Politics is none
of our business,” he insisted.
Nadeem reaffirmed
that teachers never preach, nor practice politics during the educational
process.
Former Minister of
Education
Azmi Mahafzah ruled out that teachers promote political views,
especially since students are below the legal age to join political parties.”
“Of course I agree
with Al-Rifai’s call, but I do not think that teachers practice politicization
or partisan,” Mahafzah told
Jordan News.
“I believe that the
curriculum would influence students more than teachers do”, he pointed out.
Mahafzah said that even if JTS members command political
views, “I do not believe they promote them in the classrooms.”
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