ZPU initiative seeks to shoulder students’ burdens during teachers’ strike

AMMAN — Zarqa Private University (ZPU) on Wednesday launched "our students are our responsibility..." initiative, embodying national and educational responsibilities towards the schoolchildren who are most affected by the teachers' strike.

In cooperation with Zarqa's private schools and the governorate's Education Development Centre, the ZPU's initiative will begin on Thursday across Zarqa, in the central region of Jordan, to be implemented through private schools geographically distributed across the governorate, located some 22km northeast of Amman, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The educational initiative will be implemented according to a “definite programme” set by the initiative's committee, including representatives from private schools and local society, Petra said.

In line with the initiative's interest in alleviating students' burdens, the schools of ZPU and other private schools taking part in the campaign have pledged to provide transportation to beneficiaries.

The teachers’ open strike started on Sunday and no agreement has been reached with the government regarding their demand for a 50-per cent pay raise.

The open strike was announced after a sit-in in Amman last Thursday, during which the Jordan Teachers Association claimed violations were committed against its members.

The Public Security Department denied the allegations, but confirmed that 50 teachers were detained during the protest for “illegally forcing their way through to Fourth Circle”.