‘2 principals, teacher assaulted in Zarqa’

AMMAN — Students of Omar Bin Al Khattab School in Zarqa went on strike on Wednesday after a student’s father attacked their principal and a teacher on Tuesday, according to a Jordan Teachers Association (JTA) official. 

JTA Spokesperson Ayman Okour said the principal has been admitted to a nearby hospital in Zarqa, some 22km east of Amman.

“He is receiving medical treatment at the hospital right now,” Okour told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

Zarqa Governor Raed Odwan visited the principal, Abdullah Hazaimeh, along with the head of the JTA’s Zarqa branch, Hussam Smadi.

Odwan checked on Hazaimeh’s health and denounced any assault on educators, stressing that they symbolise the moral and educational system of the nation, a JTA statement said.

He promised to follow up on the incident with the relevant parties.

Okour did not give specific details on the possible reasons behind the incident but noted that most of these attacks against educators are related to student behaviour or the issue of transferring students to different schools. 

“School staff members simply implement the regulations of the Ministry of Education,” the JTA official added. 

In another incident on Wednesday, a student and his brothers attacked the principal of another school in Zarqa, the Prince Hamzah Secondary School, the JTA said in a statement.

The principal, Ali Qaralleh, filed a complaint against the student and his family, and the assailants were detained by police, according to the JTA.

Okour said the government must move quickly to ensure the safety of teachers. 

A total of 70 assaults have been registered against teachers since the beginning of this year, according to a JTA statement. 

“We can understand the reaction of this school’s students and the situation might develop into strikes held by the teachers,” Okour added.