In a bid to support His Majestys and Jordan's e-Education initiative
Dead Sea, Jordan : Sunday May16, 2004
In a move to reinforce Jordans e-learning initiative, the Ministry of Education , signed today with France Telecom (a strategic partner and shareholder of JT since 2000 , a Memorandum of Understanding at the Dead Sea. According to the MoU, France Telecom will be managing and financing the project of computerizing the Arabic language curricula for schools, in the framework of Jordans Education Initiative for e-learning. The curriculum for grades 1-12 will all be computerized and an initial implementation of the developed curricula will be conducted in the one hundred "discovery" schools in Amman, in a bid to be implemented in all schools throughout the Kingdom.
The agreement was signed by HE Dr Khaled Toukan, Minister of Education, and Thierry Breton, Chairman and CEO of France Telecom.
His Excellency Dr. Toukan has stated that the Ministry within its comprehensive strategy is concerned with the curricula and school textbooks and the upgrading of the learning of Arabic language and skills. In addition to the integration of new methods of teaching and consolidating innovative methodology, which promotes scientific and practical approach in the curricula and school textbooks.
He reiterated that the signing of the MoU with France Telecom to computerize the Arabic Language curriculum , comes to promote partnerships with the private sector in order to serve the Jordanian national issues and to position Jordan in an appropriate rank in the field of e-learning and building national capacities in educational development. We highly appreciate the contribution and support of France Telecom in this vital project.
Thierry Breton who commended the Jordanian initiative and efforts heading towards an ICT society, expressed his pride of signing this MoU, coinciding with the World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan, thus making Jordan an important country in the field of e-education and the development of the ICT society. He said through our partner Jordan Telecom, France Telecom has committed itself in front of His Majesty King Abdullah II to heavily contribute in the technological and economic development in Jordan,.
France Telecom builds networks that enable and empower e-learning at the national level.
"As a committed user of e-learning tools in its own operations France Telecom has enormous experience in managing e-learning and especially online education , as a network operator, a curricula developer and as a user of e-learning tools" said Breton.
Starting with the computerization of the Arabic curricula, comes, due to its importance, as Jordans language especially since it bears special distinguishing factors, in its grammar and alphabets that are not available in other languages.
The project covers 500 hours of e-learning curricula, at a cost ranging between US $ 1000 to 5000 per hour, covering classes from 1st elementary to the general certificate of education (Tawjihi).
A joint supervisory commission from Ministry of Education and France Tlcom has been established to design detailed plans for the project.
The computerized syllabus will be introduced in the initial phase in the one hundred schools, serving under the "discovery schools" initiative. Once established, other schools will be incorporated, pending the Board of the Ministry of Education's approval.
This project is a joint venture between the Ministry of Education in Jordan, France Telecom in cooperation with Jordan Telecom, e-dimension, Enic Telecom Lille 1 (a telecom college) for educational consultancies, the French Ministry of Education, and experts in e-learning for content development.
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About France Telecom:
France Telecom is one of the world's leading telecommunications carriers, with 118,6 million customers on the five continents (220 countries and territories) and consolidated operating revenues of 46.1 billion euros for 2003 (11.45 billion euros for 1st quarter 2004). Through its major international brands, including Orange, Wanadoo, Equant and Globe Cast, France Telecom provides businesses, consumers and other carriers with a complete portfolio of solutions that spans local, long-distance and international telephony, wireless, Internet, multimedia, data, broadcast and cable TV services France Telecom is the second-largest wireless operator and Internet access provider in Europe, and a world leader in telecommunications solutions for multinational corporations. France Telecom (NYSE: FTE) is listed on the Paris and New York stock exchanges.
About Jordan Telecom:
Jordan Telecom, established in 1971, is the provider of Jordans only fixed line network (Jordan Telecom), an ISP (Wanadoo) previously Global One, a GSM operator (MobileCom) and Internet content delivery services (e-Dimension). Jordan Telecom has the exclusivity on fixed line voice and data transport until end of 2004 and provides a highly-developed fixed line network which forms the backbone of Jordans communication services.
The privatization of the company in January 1997 and the partnership with France Telecom, in January 2000 have allowed the company to make major investments in the network and services offered. A Data Communications Network and an Internet Access Project has created the national IT hub, which includes national switching and international connectivity through Flag and satellite, as well as establishing a state-of-the-art digital network covering 98 percent of the population. The partnership with France Telecom proved to be the most advanced global telecommunications merger in the Kingdom, paved the way for the government's shares to be the public in the companys IPO at the end of 2002 and subsequently Company's shares were divided as follows:
- 41.51 % owned by the government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
- 40 % owned by JITCO ( France Telecom and Arab Bank)
- 13 % owned by the Social Security Corporation (SSC)
- 5.49 % owned by shareholders when company's shares were first offered for sale to the public (SSC not included)
© Press Release 2004
