The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is being implemented for the first time in Jordanian public schools, targeting all branches of King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence that are candidates for implementing the program by 2028. Preparations are underway to equip schools and train educational and administrative staff to ensure their readiness to transition to an educational model that focuses on self-learning, scientific research, and inquiry, with special attention to Arabic and English languages, and the promotion of national identity and openness to the world.
Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya Bint Al-Hassan, as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the International Baccalaureate School – Amman, is making efforts to transfer the educational experiences and practices derived from the school's experience in implementing the International Baccalaureate program to King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence, contributing to the development of education and expanding opportunities for excellence for students in public schools.
Dr. Alia Jaradat, Director of the Directorate of Gifted and Talented Students and Director of the Program, said that the launch of the International Baccalaureate program at King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence represents a qualitative milestone in the journey of education development in Jordan, embodying the belief that the real investment in the future of the nation begins with investing in people, the minds of its children, their abilities, and their aspirations.
She explained that King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence, since their inception, have not been just schools for gifted and talented students, but have come to be nurturing educational environments for excellence, real laboratories for discovering talents, developing creativity, and building a personality capable of continuous learning, competition, and contributing to the future.
She said that the launch of the International Baccalaureate program in these schools represents a new step towards enhancing this role, by providing an educational experience that offers students broader opportunities for deep learning, research, inquiry, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaborative work, and linking knowledge to life and the challenges facing our contemporary world.
She added that the International Baccalaureate is not just an additional educational certificate, but an integrated educational system that can contribute to developing the student's personality, enhancing their intellectual independence, consolidating their ability to learn, and transforming them from a recipient of knowledge into a seeker, producer, and user of it.
She emphasized that the International Baccalaureate program in excellence schools represents an opportunity to build bridges between national education and international educational standards, and to benefit from global experiences and practices, adapting them to suit the Jordanian educational system and national priorities.
For his part, the Director General for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Canada at the International Baccalaureate Organization, Engineer Haitham Banaian, said that Jordan holds a pioneering position in the history of the International Baccalaureate in the Middle East.
He added that in 1981, Jordan became the first country in the region to adopt the International Baccalaureate vision, with the support of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Hassan Bin Talal and Princess Thurwat Al-Hassan, noting that this pioneering decision contributed to preparing generations of students and educators, and established Jordan's position as a regional model in educational innovation and excellence.
He continued that this pioneering spirit continues, after more than four decades, to lead the journey of education development in Jordan, affirming that this legacy is gaining special importance today under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya, whose steadfast commitment to education, innovation, and youth empowerment supports the march of progress and educational renaissance in the Kingdom.
He said that the partnership between the International Baccalaureate Organization and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development is moving to a new and important stage, as the implementation of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence opens new horizons for students across the Kingdom, providing world-class educational opportunities within the public education system.
He added that he participated this year in the International Baccalaureate Day (IB Day) in Jordan, hosted by the International Baccalaureate School – Amman (ABS), and met with several school directors and coordinators leading the initiative, noting that their ambition and commitment to the students' interests reinforced his conviction of the initiative's importance in supporting education development and establishing a culture of excellence in Jordan.
He said that the launch of King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence in this journey represents a promising step, expressing his aspiration for them to become an active part of the global International Baccalaureate network and contribute to enhancing Jordan's position in the field of education.
The ceremony included a video presentation showcasing the achievements of King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence, a choral performance, an English language segment presented by student Lilas Sulaiman Abdulfattah Al-Hawamid and students Aus Bissam and Walid Sukaria from King Abdullah II School/Muqaiyin, and a segment on the Black Rose presented by student Balqis Iyad Qarqash.
At the end of the ceremony, Her Royal Highness distributed commemorative shields to a number of personalities, while Dr. Mahafza presented a commemorative shield to Her Royal Highness.
