Razzaz attends launch of first two waqf schools

AMMAN — Prime Minister Omar Razzaz on Monday inaugurated the first two waqf (endowment) schools in the Kingdom, the Muhammad Sayel Husban School in Mafraq and Ahmad Hamdan Ghanimeh School in Ein Al Basha.

Razzaz said that the government revived the educational and health waqf concepts to allow all citizens to perform their national duties for society and to enhance social responsibility, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Razzaz opened the Mafraq school, after former health minister Yasin Husban, son of Muhammad Sayel Husban, donated funds for its establishment.

The 500sq.m school was built on a 2,500sq.m plot of land and accommodates 150 students in grades 1-5.

The prime minister commended the donation to establish the school which “forms a model for schools that are fully equipped with all necessary facilities”.

In Ein Al Basha, the premier opened the Ahmad Hamdan Ghanimeh School, which was funded by Ahmad Ghanimeh’s son and former education minister Muhammad Hamdan who called on all people who can afford building schools to do so.

Muhammad said that the Education Ministry needs 60 schools due to the Syrian refugee crises and students’ transfer from private to public schools. However, the ministry can only provide 40 schools, resulting in an annual deficit of 20 schools that could be built through waqf. 

Razzaz started his visit to Mafraq by checking on the first phase of a housing project that includes villas, apartments, restaurants and shops. The cost of the scheme, implemented by the private sector, stands at some JD65 million.

The premier said that this project conforms to the government’s initiative to establish housing ventures in all governorates.