Mahafzah, Najjar discuss education, cultural heritage with US Assistant Secretary of State

AMMAN — Jordan and the US on Thursday discussed means to enhance cooperation in projects related to educational programmes and preserving cultural heritage. 

During a meeting with Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield, Minister of Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research Azmi Mahafzah said that the ministry has completed a significant portion of a plan to develop vocational education, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Mahafzah, in the presence of Culture Minister Haifa Najjar, stressed the ministry's keenness to build effective partnerships with relevant public and private institutions to provide proper training for students to ensure having generations with high skills that can compete at the Arab and regional levels.

For her part, Najjar referred to the 2023-2027 National Strategy for Culture, which was approved by the Council of Ministers in April and includes an executive action plan to be developed with the participation of all institutions, agencies, organisations and individuals involved in Jordan's cultural affairs. 

Satterfield stressed the importance of the partnership between the two sides and the US’ desire to support the efforts of the Jordanian government in various areas of education and preserving the cultural heritage.

She also highlighted the need to encourage students to consider choosing different educational paths at universities and vocational schools that are suitable for them, and create an educational environment that promotes the arts, human sciences and disciplines that can provide employment opportunities to support the creative economy.

The US official noted that in her country, there are more than 4,000 degree-granting postsecondary institutions, both universities and vocational colleges, where students choose the discipline that best suits them.