Queen Rania launches Early Grade Reading and Math Project

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Tuesday launched the Early Grade Reading and Math Project (RAMP) at the Dahiet Al Ameer Hassan Elementary Coeducational School in Amman. 

RAMP, a $48 million (JD 34.1 million) five-year project funded by the United States and the United Kingdom, is designed to improve the reading and math skills of KG1-Grade 3 children, according to a statement from Her Majesty's office. 

The project is led by RTI International in partnership with the Queen Rania Teacher Academy (QRTA), along with other local teaching organisations. 

“Improving the quality of reading and math skills among early grade students in Jordan is a major priority for the Ministry of Education,” Education Minister Mohammad Thneibat said at the launch. Focusing on the steps taken by the ministry, Thneibat informed Her Majesty that new curricula have been adopted for Grades 1–3 and teachers have been trained on it. 

Also speaking at the event, US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells said that her country, “through USAID and with the support of QRTA, is proud to support the RAMP initiative".  

"We are pleased to partner with the Ministry of Education and the Government of the United Kingdom to launch this new programme," the statement quoted Wells as saying. 

“RAMP will work in all schools in Jordan on a countrywide effort to strengthen teachers’ capacities to teach reading and math more effectively, engage parents and communities in their children’s learning, and reform curriculum and materials to best meet the needs of young children in Jordan,” she added.

“The programme will create a culture of reading in Jordan that is based on a strong academic foundation, and will continue to ensure that Jordanian education remains competitive, relevant and of top quality.” 

UK Deputy Head of Mission Simon Mustard praised the work of the ministry.

“I commend the leadership of the Jordanian Ministry of Education in establishing a Kingdom-wide campaign to improve the learning levels of every child.”

During the Queen’s visit to the school, she listened to several teachers and students share their experiences with RAMP during the experimental phase and testify to its importance in improving teachers’ skills and students’ performances in math and other subjects as a result of better reading skills, the statement said. 

Her Majesty also toured school premises and stopped by the KG2 classroom where she attended part of an interactive lesson that utilises music and technology to deliver information. 

Queen Rania also made a stop at the school’s computer lab and spoke to several mothers participating in a workshop that develops their skills in teaching their children how to read.

The Queen also watched several students, including three with physical disabilities, perform a play to highlight the level of inclusion within the classroom, according to the statement. 

She then joined a group of older children demonstrating oral hygiene to younger students. 

Located in east Amman, the school was constructed in 2010 by USAID in partnership with the ministries of education and public works.  

The school consist of 28 classrooms, a first aid unit, a knowledge centre, administration offices, labs, a kindergarten and multipurpose rooms.

A total of 2,000 students are enrolled in the school, which operates both morning and evening shifts, and has 80 teachers and administrative staff. 

The student body includes 20 students with disabilities and around 400 Syrian refugees.