AMMAN - An evaluation of ICT tools utilisation in the Kingdom's 5,831 public and private schools was launched on Wednesday in order to draw up plans on how to better integrate technology into the education process.
Under a memorandum of understanding signed yesterday by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and the Jordan Education Initiative (JEI), teams representing the three entities will conduct the survey, with results to be announced in the fall of 2011.
"The survey will provide indicators about the actual usage of ICT tools in schools. This will offer us a suitable opportunity to make decisions in the future," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Khalid Karaki said at the signing ceremony, adding that the ministry is proceeding with plans to integrate ICT tools in the country's schools.
Focus groups involving teachers from all over the country will be organised as part of the survey, which also includes field visits, questionnaires and interviews with students, JEI CEO Haif Bannayan told The Jordan Times after the signing of the memo.
"The survey seeks to check on the readiness of schools for using e-curricula, including infrastructure and equipment, and the results will help us draw up plans and proceed with the computerisation of the educational process," he added.
Referring to the national broadband network that is projected to cover 3,300 public schools and public agencies, Minister of Information and Communications Technology Marwan Juma said 13 per cent of the country's public schools are already connected to the network.
"Jordan's assets are its people and this is what should we focus on. The survey's results will help us overcome obstacles in the use of ICT tools in teaching at schools," he said at the signing ceremony.
Stressing the importance of the integration of ICT tools in the educational process, Juma said the results will also provide a database on how to enhance the situation and improve utilisation of these tools in schools.
Launched in 2003, the JEI is a public-private partnership that aims to accelerate social and economic development across the region through quality education. It seeks to improve education through the effective use of ICT.
© Jordan Times 2011
