EUTF SUPPORT TO CONSTRUCT SCHOOLS IN JORDAN
FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION, THROUGH THE EU REGIONAL TRUST FUND IN RESPONSE TO THE SYRIAN CRISIS, THE EU MADAD FUND.
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME (SCP) I-II
Implemented by
FUNDED BY THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT
EUR 30 Million to build Schools in Jordan
Jordan and European Union Host ‘Schools of the 21st Century’ Conference to Share Best Practices in Modern School Design
AMMAN, Jordan
The School Construction Programme successfully convened the high-level "Schools of the 21st Century Conference" today in Amman. The event brought together senior government officials, international partners, and technical experts to showcase the achievements of modern school infrastructure development in Jordan and launch new national design guidelines.
The conference featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including H.E. the Minister of Public Works and Housing, H.E. the Minister of Education, and the Representative of the European Union, who all underscored the importance of providing safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments for all students.
High-Level Attendance
The opening session highlighted the strong partnership driving the initiative.
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H.E. the Minister of Public Works and Housing addressed the critical role of sustainable and efficient construction in public works.
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H.E. the Minister of Education focused on how modern infrastructure supports educational quality and student retention.
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The Representative of the European Union reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering commitment to supporting the educational sector in Jordan.
Focus on Design and Lessons Learned
The core of the conference centered on sharing technical expertise gathered throughout the project. Key presentations covered:
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Project Achievements: A detailed review of the successes, scale, and impact of the schools constructed under the Programme.
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Lessons Learned: Comprehensive analysis of best practices and challenges encountered during the design, tendering, and construction phases, ensuring continuous improvement for future projects.
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New Design Guidelines: The official presentation and launch of the Design Guidelines for 21st Century Schools, a major output intended to standardize the construction of modern, resilient, and student-centric educational facilities across the Kingdom.
Attendees were also treated to visual presentations, including a video detailing the construction process and a drone video showcasing the completed schools alongside personal success stories from students.
The event concluded with a dynamic Panel Discussion involving experts from both government and the private sector, who debated strategies for scaling up modern school construction and integrating sustainable building technologies into the national framework.
The "Schools of the 21st Century Conference" marks a pivotal step in Jordan’s commitment to providing equitable access to quality education, underpinned by robust and sustainable infrastructure supported by its international partners.
EUR 30 Million to build Schools in Jordan
AMMAN — The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the German Development Bank (KfW) on Wednesday signed a grant agreement worth 30.6 million euros to complete the programme of school construction in Jordan.
The grant agreement, signed by Minister Mary Kawar and Director of the Amman Office of KfW Christian Schaub, aims at building, equipping and furnishing 10 new government schools.
Kawar was quoted, in a Planning Ministry statement to The Jordan Times, as saying that the programme is supported by the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis, the “Madad Fund”, in order to contribute to easing the pressure on public schools receiving large numbers of students beyond the capacity as a result of the enrolment of thousands of Syrian students in government schools.
Madad was launched in 2014 as a more flexible and rapid tool to respond to changing needs and provide assistance to development projects in countries affected by the Syrian crisis. It focuses on supporting basic education, child protection, training and higher education programmes, improving access to healthcare, livelihoods and improving infrastructure in the fields of water and sanitation, according to the statement.
Kawar said that the agreement came within the implementation of the London Conference pledges, according to the statement.
Minister of Public Works and Housing Falah Omoush said the grant will contribute to improving the quality of education in the Kingdom, especially at primary schools and kindergartens.
The grant will be implemented by the KfW in partnership with the government in accordance with the agreement, the statement said.
Last year, Madad provided another grant of 20 million euros that was increased to 23.9 million to deal with burdens of hosting the Syrian refugees, especially in the education sector.
EU Ambassador to Jordan Andrea Fontana said that the partnership between the EU and Jordan is growing in various fields, commending the Kingdom’s humanitarian assistance to Syrian refugees, according to the statement.
Fonata called for increasing efforts to gather support for refugee-burdened Jordan, the statement said.
Schaub said that supporting Jordan is among the priorities of the German government and the KfW, voicing appreciation for Jordan’s humanitarian efforts.