South Korea donates $11.1m for three new schools in Jordan

AMMAN — Three new schools in Irbid, Mafraq and Zarqa will be established this year funded by a donation from South Korea.

The schools’ project, worth $11.1 million, will be implemented by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) between 2017 and 2020 as part of Korea’s support to the Kingdom’s educational needs, as outlined in the Jordan Response Plan.

Education Minister Omar Razzaz and Country Director of KOICA Jordan Byun Sook-jin on Tuesday signed the minutes of discussion of the project, which seeks to provide formal education to Jordanian and Syrian students directly affected by the Syrian refugee crisis. 

Razzaz stressed the significance of the donation and voiced Jordan’s appreciation of the Korean government’s support, represented by KOICA, to the Education Ministry in implementing several projects that contribute to the development of the education sector. 

The new project entails building the three schools, equipping them with the necessary furniture and stationery, and providing training to 500 teachers and 100 school principals from the three governorates that will host the schools. 

The KOICA director expressed her country’s commitment to supporting Jordan and further strengthening bilateral cooperation to best serve the interests of the two countries. 

She underlined the agency’s dedication in supporting the ministry’s efforts to accommodate Syrian refugees. 

The signing ceremony was attended by South Korean Ambassador in Amman Lee Bom-yon.

Established in 2005 under an agreement between Jordan and Korea, KOICA has managed to implement a diverse set of activities that include capacity building programmes and projects deemed necessary for the Kingdom, according to the agency.