Amman - Secretary-General of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mamoun Al-Debi'e, met on Wednesday with the team from IREX, the organization implementing the USAID-funded "Asas" Early Education Project.
اضافة اعلان
The IREX team included Project Director Cameron Mirza, Saeb Khasawneh, Director of Pre-Service Teacher Education Programs, Hiba Fouda, Policy and Systems Manager, Hala Ayoub, Institutional Strengthening Technical Advisor, and Ahlam Elkouz, Curriculum Linkages Technical Advisor
Al-Debi'e commended the project’s progress, particularly the recent review and enhancement of two key undergraduate programs: early childhood education and classroom teaching.
These improvements, made in collaboration with the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions, include an increase in the required practical training hours for education students from 12 to 18 credit hours.
He emphasized the importance of aligning these programs with international best practices, while also ensuring they remain rooted in Jordanian cultural values.
Cameron Mirza expressed gratitude for the Ministry's support, acknowledging that it has been instrumental to the success of the project’s first year, which was implemented at three major public universities: the University of Jordan, Yarmouk University, and the Hashemite University.
Khasawneh stressed the need to adopt modern teaching and assessment methods that focus on the learner, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world application.
He highlighted the importance of aligning university programs with the changing demands of the education sector and the job market, emphasizing that practical training is central to developing competent teachers.
Hiba Fouda explained how the "Asas" project has been working closely with the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission for Higher Education Institutions and the Ministry of Education to improve early education policies.
This includes strengthening the practical training component in all teacher education programs across the country. She also noted the efforts to coordinate training opportunities between universities, schools, and kindergartens, ensuring students receive quality, hands-on experience.
In closing, Al-Debi'e expressed his appreciation for the support provided by USAID, noting that it would play a key role in transforming Jordan’s teacher education programs and in supporting the broader goals of improving the national education system.
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