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AMMAN – A day after Sudanese authorities released Jordanian students who were detained in a case related to the leak of secondary exam papers in Sudan, parents pledged to continue protesting until their demands are met. 

A total of 21 Jordanians were released on Tuesday after "intensive" efforts by the Foreign Ministry to ensure their jail release.

More than 700 Jordanians have flown to the Arab African country to complete the general secondary school exam, believing that the exams are easier abroad. 

In March, Sudanese authorities detained a number of Jordanian students over claims that the national exam test papers were leaked and obtained by some of these students.

The incident prompted the Education Ministry to announce that secondary school certificates from Sudan will not be accredited in Jordan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Mohammad Thneibat clarified on Tuesday during a Lower House's oversight session that the ministry's decision not to accredit secondary school certificates from Sudan this year was due to the leak issue. 

He added that the decision does not entail by any means offending the Sudanese educational system, describing the system as "strong". 

However, parents of children studying in Sudan on Wednesday decided to continue their protests, saying that the decision is "unfair" and "does not take students' interests into account". 

"We decided to send our children to continue secondary school abroad due to the Education Ministry's policies that make the Tawjihi a rather impossible stage to pass for our children. We asked the ministry before sending our children to Sudan and it was made clear that there are no restrictions whatsoever," Ashraf Adaileh, spokesperson of the parents of Jordanian students in Sudan, told The Jordan Times. 

He added that the families have spent more than JD10,000 to cover their children's living expenses in Sudan, saying that the released students will remain in the African country. 

"My son is currently in Sudan and will apply to the secondary national exam next year…we insist that our students continue their education in Sudan, which has proven to have a strong educational system," Adaileh noted.

He said that the parents of students in Sudan will continue holding protests "until the education minister revisits his decision not to accredit certificates issued in Sudan or resign". 

"The incident was foul play and some of the students got involved… we like to assure the government that our children have a high sense of belonging and responsibility and the action of few does not represent the majority," he said.

AMMAN — Border Guards received 310 Syrian refugees over the previous 24 hours and transferred them to shelters and camps, the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army said on Wednesday.

Royal Medical Service personnel treated the injured, according to a statement by the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

AMMAN — A 60-year-old man died on Wednesday because of injuries he sustained in a two-vehicle collision in Karak, a Civil Defence Department (CDD) statement said.

Also on Wednesday, four people were injured in a two-vehicle collision in the Northern Hashemi area, Amman. CDD cadres administered first aid to the injured and took them to Prince Hamzah Public Hospital where they were listed in fair condition. 

AMMAN — The new Jordanian field hospital team “Gaza 41” arrived in the coastal enclave on Wednesday to replace the “Gaza 40” team, whose members returned to the Kingdom after concluding their mission.

Commander of “Gaza 41” Col. Bassam Al Saudi said the cadres have started preparations to serve patients, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The Jordanian Society for Human Rights (JSHR) on Tuesday organised a launch ceremony for its new project “Integrating Human Rights Concepts in Jordanian Media Outlets”, a JSHR statement said.

The project is funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and approved by the Planning and International Cooperation Ministry, according to the statement. 

AMMAN — The Water Ministry and the Chinese Office of Economic and Commercial Affairs on Wednesday signed an agreement to implement the second phase of the project for rehabilitating water networks in Russeifa, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The Chinese government will fund the project under an agreement signed with the government to conduct the project of enhancing water supply in Russeifa, worth JD2.4 million. 

AMMAN — The Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided to exempt eggs from sales tax, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Eggs were subject to a 4 per cent sales tax and the Cabinet took the decision because eggs are consumed by the entire population. The decision is also important for chicken farmers and consumers, Petra quoted Agriculture Minister Akef Zu’bi as saying. 

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to approve the mandating reasons for amendments to the 2016 draft by-law on practising academic profession at universities and colleges and to send it to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau to be endorsed in accordance with the law.

The draft by-law determines the basis of approving the practice of academic profession, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

They include obtaining a valid PhD degree, having published a peer-reviewed scientific research in a specialised magazine and having passed the English language proficiency exam or mastering another international language. 

AMMAN — The Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved an amended 2016 draft by-law on electricity licence fees, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The draft by-law was made to allow ministries, public institutions and natural persons to establish, own and run renewable energy resource systems to generate electricity independently without the need to be registered as companies.

The aim is to facilitate the process for ministries, institutions and people to generate electricity, reduce energy bills and depending more on alternative energy resources, Petra reported. 

AMMAN — The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a recommendation by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to expand the umbrella of the code of conduct on suppressing piracy and armed robbery targeting ships in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

The expansion plan includes combating maritime crimes like dealing with drugs and weapons, human trafficking and illegal fishing.

The approval of member states in the IMO on the amendments shall result in working out a mechanism for cooperation to combat those crimes on a national level.

Moreover, the approval will provide training opportunities funded by the IMO member states for workers in national institutions in the field of combating such crimes, Petra reported.