Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed Hashemi Shamali Mixed Primary School in a ceremony attended by representatives of the German government and local community members.
The school, located in Marka District, was built with support from the German government through the German Development Bank (KfW), as part of the School Construction Programme, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
Mahafzah highlighted the significance of the occasion, describing the school’s opening as a “reflection of the strong and fruitful partnership between Jordan’s national institutions and international partners.”
He stressed that education remains the cornerstone for building a bright future for Jordanian youth.
The minister expressed his appreciation to the German government and KfW for their continued support of Jordan’s education sector, noting that this collaboration has materialised through the construction of six schools, funded with a total of 29 million euros.
The new schools, he noted, feature modern designs and state-of-the-art facilities, including furniture and equipment, and are built in line with sustainability standards, such as the integration of solar energy systems.
The minister added that these schools offer inclusive learning environments that cater to students of all ages, including children with disabilities, promoting equity and improving academic outcomes.
He congratulated students, teachers, and staff of the school, which includes 22 classrooms and currently serves over 800 students, among them 124 Syrian students.
The school’s full capacity is 850 students and helps eliminate the need for double-shift schooling at the nearby Lubaba Bint Al Harith School and eased overcrowding in other local schools.
Silvia Boor, representative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to supporting Jordan’s education sector.
She praised the “high level” of cooperation between the German government and the Ministry of Education, and pledged continued support through various programmes aimed at enhancing school infrastructure and learning environments.
Deputy Director of KfW Sawsan Arouri and Director of the Marka Education Directorate Ziyad Awawdeh attended the event alongside members of the Educational Development Council and local residents.
Rula Taifour, principal of the school, said that the inauguration represents a “solid step” in Jordan’s investment in children, whom she described as the “true wealth and foundation of sustainable development.”
Following the ceremony, Mahafzah and the accompanying delegation toured the school’s facilities, including classrooms, science and computer laboratories, a kindergarten section, an art room, and a library.
The opening of the school allowed for the closure of one rented school facility and the cancellation of second-shift sessions in another, in addition to alleviating overcrowding in three nearby schools.
These improvements are expected to significantly enhance both the quality of education and the wellbeing of students and teachers.