Education key to advancing societies — Prince Hassan

AMMAN — Education is key to empowering societies to adapt to current challenges, HRH Prince Hassan, chairman of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, said on Thursday.

Speaking during a ceremony to honour the winners of the El Hassan Bin Talal Award for Scientific Excellence, the prince said enhancing economic growth alone does not lead to the advancement of mankind, as this growth should be coupled with policies to support the poor and create jobs.

He highlighted the key role education plays in the advancement of societies, noting that it is important to train students on critical thinking, which encourages innovation.

Knowledge and skills represent the engine for economy in a world where there is strong competition, and the success of any country relies on the quality and quantity of its efficient and highly specialised individuals, said the prince.

He added that it is time to take firm decisions in the higher education sector.

Noting that unemployment among those aged 15 years and greater stood at 25.5 per cent in 2010, Prince Hassan said there is a gap in terms of students and actual needs in the labour market.

“The Arab world needs a scientific, technological strategy to boost these sectors.”

Citing studies by the Arab League, the prince said 31 per cent of the brain drain across the globe comes from the Arab world, and 54 per cent of Arab students who study abroad do not return home.

In a speech at the ceremony, Khalid Shraideh, secretary general of the Higher Council for Science and Technology, announced that the first award was split between two entities. 

It went to the Pioneer Centre for Gifted Students in Irbid for their project on cost-effective and eco-friendly fuel cells, and the Omariyah School for a project on developing the learning experience, according to a statement issued by the organisers of the award.

The second-place winners were the Jubilee School for a project on “The first and distinguished model that caters for talented education in Jordan and the Arab world,” and the Abu Baker Al Siddiq Comprehensive Secondary School for Boys for a project titled “Oyster mushroom”, the statement said.

The third award went to the Modern Systems School for their project “Recycling Ground Coffee”, the Islamic Education College School for Boys for the project “Using multiple intelligence and the various learning styles in teaching 10th grade students and applying them in the classroom”, and Al Quds Secondary School for Girls for the project “The Art of Teaching-Learning Packages”.

The first place winners will share the JD7,000 prize, while second and third place winners will share the JD5,000 and JD3,000 prizes respectively.

Shraideh said that about 27 entities working in the field of general education submitted 28 projects in this year’s competition.