Queen meets QRTA teacher trainees at Al Ashrafieh secondary school for girls

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Monday visited Al Ashrafieh Secondary School for Girls in Amman, where she met with teachers and principals taking part in two educator network programmes implemented by the Queen Rania Teachers Academy (QRTA), according to a statement from Her Majesty's Office.

Under QRTA’s Schools Network Programme, schools are grouped together into four subject-specific networks, putting Arabic, English, mathematics and science teachers in touch with their peers across Jordan to encourage their‎ professional development and provide opportunities for collaboration across ‎schools. QRTA also offers an Instructional Leadership Network Programme for the nation’s principals, assistant principals and supervisors.

Accompanied by the school’s principal, Zhour Al Mufleh, and QRTA CEO, Haif Banyan, Her Majesty spoke with several teachers taking part in the Schools Network Programme, including a science teacher who graduated last year from QRTA’s Teacher Education Professional Diploma (TEPD) programme.

The Queen was also briefed on the progress of the ongoing Schools Network Research Study, which aims to assess the impact of QRTA’s network programmes on education in schools around the country. The study, which was launched in 2016, will determine the extent to which participation in the programme’s networks enhances the performance of educators and their students.

Funded by the Government of Canada, the study is being conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education, National Centre for Human Resource Development, and the University of Toronto — Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.The study will continue until December 2018, with initial findings set for release in June 2019. 

Attended by 440 girls between grades seven and 12, Al Ashrafieh Secondary School for Girls is one of 19 schools taking part in the Schools Network Research Study. Participants in the study include 300 teachers, 60 principals, assistant principals, and supervisors, as well as a sample of students from across Amman, Irbid and Karak.