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AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday underscored the important work of the National Committee for Human Resources Development to prepare a comprehensive strategy that can bring about qualified human resources capable of competing in the labour market.  

At a meeting at Al Husseiniya Palace with committee members, attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania, King Abdullah expressed his support for the panel to arrive at results to address the challenges facing the education sector and human resources. 

The King was briefed by the committee’s president, Wajih Owais, on the main objectives of the national strategy on human resources development for 2015 and 2016, according to a Royal Court statement.

Highlighting ways to deal with the education sector and manpower development challenges, Owais presented the committee’s proposals to enhance the output of the education sector, in its various stages, through training, supervision and rehabilitation programmes, in addition to suggested reforms for vocational training. 

The proposals also included diagnosing problems facing the issue of honing workers’ skills, in both the private and public sectors, besides examining the effect of guest workers on the labour market and offering solutions.

At the meeting, attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said the success of the committee’s work is part of the authorities’ priorities, stressing the government’s support for it. 

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, Owais, a former higher education minister, said the committee on Sunday discussed pre-school learning as it is the main stage and basis for the development of human resources, noting that this stage contributes most to the build-up of an individual’s character and mindset.

Other parts of the committee’s work include examining education problems in general and drawing up solutions pertaining to teachers’ training and developing school curricula and vocational training, he added.  

The National Committee for Human Resources Development was formed in April after His Majesty sent a letter to Ensour highlighting an urgent need for Jordan to develop an integrated, comprehensive, strategic and well-defined system for human resources development.   

In the letter, the King said the committee for human resources development should prepare a national strategy, from which a 10-year plan to develop several sectors could be drawn.

The plan will deal with developing elementary education, higher education, technical education and vocational training sectors with the purpose of achieving a qualitative leap in human resources and deciding on a set of reform policies that can support the modernisation and development process.

The committee will also prepare for a national conference during which the strategy to develop human resources will be endorsed.

The strategy will present ways to develop manpower, starting from early childhood and up to working age, in accordance with applicable programmes and well-defined measuring tools and indicators.

It should define reform priorities, available financing options and steps to develop the labour market, to be endorsed by the Cabinet, and help outline the course for consecutive governments.

AMMAN — The Kingdom celebrated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations on Saturday with an event led by senior representatives of the nation and the UN. 

At the event, whose theme was “Strong UN, Better World”, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Edward Kallon highlighted the Kingdom’s “invaluable contribution to the UN system” and described it as “a country that has, over decades, proven its generosity and hospitality to people fleeing violence in the region”.

He also praised Jordan’s current role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, noting that the Kingdom is one of the largest contributors of peacekeepers to UN missions. 

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury commended the organisation’s “tremendous effort in uniting governments and people across the world in order to maintain peace, security, and to promote social progress, development and better living conditions.” 

The Syrian crisis topped both speakers’ calls for cooperation between the UN and Jordan, with Kallon saying that it is “internationally recognised as the worst humanitarian disaster the world has faced since the Second World War”.

“Over the past four years, Jordan took decisive steps to tackle the dual challenges brought about by the spillover of the Syria crisis, protecting and meeting the needs of Syrian refugees and strengthening the capacity of the government to respond sustainably and meet the development needs and aspirations of its citizens,” Kallon said.

Fakhoury noted that the UN “has advocated strongly for greater burden-sharing by the international community”, adding that the presence of over 1.4 million Syrians in Jordan places “tremendous strain and pressure on our country’s social and economic systems and institutions”. 

The minister also lauded Jordan’s achievements in relation to the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, which end this year, and in which gains were made in poverty reduction, health, education, gender equality, environment and other areas. 

The Kingdom also contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which target the year 2030.

The celebration featured a performance of classic Arabic and Western songs by the Jordanian National Orchestra Association (JOrchestra).

UN Jordan also marked the UN’s 70th anniversary on Saturday by lighting up Amman’s Citadel and parts of the ancient city of Petra in the organisation’s official shade of blue, with the nation’s heritage sites joining more than 150 iconic monuments lit up for this occasion in countries across the world.

AMMAN — Tracey Curtis-Taylor, seeking to pay tribute to Amy Johnson — the first woman to fly solo from the UK to Australia in 1930 — stopped over in Jordan, hoping to inspire young Jordanian women to hold on to their dreams.

Curtis-Taylor plans to recreate her idol’s adventurous story, flying solo across 23 countries in two weeks.

The pilot, who had her first flying lessons at the age of 16, said her real passion is vintage airplanes, and that this journey is homage to what was done in the past.

“[This journey] is highly important for me and Jordan is one of the highest spots of my flight,” she said in an interview at Marka Airport in east Amman.

 “It is all difficult, I have to tell you — the bureaucratic dimension to try to do something like that. It took 18 months of planning and everywhere we go there are challenges everyday to get visas,” she added. 

The pilot is flying a vintage airplane but she has a support plane as well.

The first leg of the route, which departed on October 1, travels 13,000 miles across Europe and the Mediterranean to Jordan, over the Arabian Desert, across the Gulf of Oman to Pakistan, through India and into Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, before crossing the Timor Sea to Australia. 

According to her official website, the flight is expected to take 12-14 weeks. The plane will then be shipped to the US and flown across the US to complete the world flight in 2016.

In 2013, Curtis-Taylor flew solo across Africa in her classic open cockpit biplane, Spirit of Artemis. 

A documentary film about her adventure won critical acclaim and was broadcast on the BBC.

“I like to come back to Jordan [because]… you travel very quickly and you cannot spend that much time [here],” she said.

The pilot has already been to several countries including the UK, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria.

Curtis-Taylor noted that she also wanted to send a message of female empowerment through her journey. 

“Maybe it will be possible to inspire this generation to get involved in aviation and engineering, because we need more women doing it,” she said.

And fascinate Jordanian girls she did, with a number of students going to the airport to meet her.

Razan Hunaity, from Um Kulthom School in Zarqa, said she was amazed by the pilot’s courage.

Afnan Hattab, another student, said that although she herself did not plan to follow in the footsteps of the 53-year-old pilot, she supported the idea.

“I was amazed that despite her age, she has such courage to undertake such an adventure. You would assume that people of her age would say this is the time to rest, but she remains determined to achieve her goals,” she told The Jordan Times.

British Ambassador to Jordan Edward Oakden said Curtis-Taylor chose the Kingdom as one of the 23 countries along her journey partly for historical reasons.

“It is because of the historical and modern relationships between the two countries. We both think it is really important to show what enterprising women can do. Tracey is very keen to meet these children here to show [them] what… young women [can] do and to show that they can dream too,” he told The Jordan Times.

Hattab said Curtis-Taylor’s story inspired her not to give up on her dreams.

“I learned that I should pursue my dreams, even if they seem strange to the rest of society,” the 15-year-old added.

AMMAN — The depression that started affecting the country on Sunday brought heavy rain accompanied by thunder and hail, causing flash floods and several road accidents, authorities said Sunday.

All parts of the Kingdom witnessed rainfall, with the northern regions receiving the lion’s share of the “massive” downpour, Jordan Meteorological Department (JMD) Director General Mohammad Samawi told The Jordan Times.

He said floods and landslides were reported in northern and southern areas, adding that the desert road witnessed “remarkable” low-visibility due to dust.  

The JMD had no figures on the amount of rainfall.

Rainwater flooded some houses in Irbid Governorate’s Bani Kinanah District, causing damages, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Meanwhile, six people were injured on Northern Shuneh road as the bus carrying them was overturned by floods, Petra said, adding that the injured received the needed treatment at Muath Bin Jabal Public Hospital and were discharged.

Irbid Governor Saad Shihab did not have further details on the situation in Northern Shuneh, but told The Jordan Times that the floods there were like a sea. 

Flash floods blocked several roads in Northern Ghor that were later reopened, while the power was out due to the fall of electric poles, Petra reported, adding that authorities pumped out water from flooded houses.

Later on Sunday, Northern Ghor Education Director Ibrahim Abu Shaqra decided to suspend classes at several schools on Monday due to the weather conditions.

Another road accident occurred on the Mafraq-Jaber road as a dust storm “completely blocked visibility”, which caused the collision of four vehicles, injuring one man, Petra reported, adding that the man was taken to Mafraq Public Hospital and was listed in fair condition.

The majority of Jaber Al Sarhan’s roads were closed due to low visibility, Petra added.

The Greater Amman Municipality was on alert to deal with the weather conditions, according to Petra.

The municipality said it has concluded its preparations for any emergencies, urging contractors not to leave construction material on roads or sidewalks during the rain. Residents can call 06/5359970 or 06/5359971 in case of emergencies.

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Sunday visited the Jordan River Foundation’s (JRF) 20th Annual Handicrafts Exhibition titled “Heritage”.

Her Majesty was received by Enaam Barrishi, director of JRF, and Danah Dajani, the foundation’s deputy director. 

The event was also attended by several ambassadors to Jordan, JRF donors, board members, staff and beneficiaries, as well as designers, according to a statement from the Queen’s office.

Her Majesty toured the exhibition, which included hand-woven Bani Hamida rugs with a fresh modern twist; wall hangings and cushions embroidered with a mélange of art deco patterns and organic motifs; the Turath Collection which combines hand-stitched embroidery with photography through mixed media techniques; and a selection of decorative items and furnishings designed around geometric lines that combine modern materials with traditional embroidery in various arrangements. 

The exhibition also included a traditional dress collection.

Products of the JRF’s 20th handicrafts exhibition are currently on display at the showroom’s premises in Jabal Amman.

Established by Queen Rania in 1995 as an NGO dedicated to improving the livelihoods of families and communities across Jordan, the JRF works through partnerships with the private sector to provide local projects that empower women and men, developing their knowledge and skills in handicraft production, entrepreneurship and small-business management.

AMMAN — King’s Military Adviser and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Mashal Al Zaben on Sunday departed for Spain on an official visit to participate in the seventh meeting of chiefs-of-staff, held in Madrid.

During the visit, Zaben is scheduled to meet with chiefs-of-staff of participating countries to discuss current conditions in the region and joint international efforts to combat terrorism, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

AMMAN — The Council of Ministers on Sunday approved a decision to implement the Amman-Zarqa Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing.

During a meeting, the Cabinet also decided that the Land Transport Regulatory Commission will be responsible for regulating operations of the BRT lines once the project is completed. The cost of the project is estimated to reach JD110 million.

AMMAN — MP Eteiwi Majali was laid to rest on Sunday in his hometown of Rabbah in Karak Governorate. Majali died Saturday of a terminal illness, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Following an MP’s death, the Lower House must inform the government and the Independent Election Commission in order to carry out a by-election to fill Majali's vacant seat, in accordance with Article 88 of the Constitution.

AMMAN — The Education Ministry on Sunday announced the initial schedule for the 2016 General Secondary Education Certificate Examination (Tawjihi) winter session for academic and vocational streams.

Education Ministry Spokesperson Walid Jallad said the exams, according to the schedule, will start on December 30 and end on January 12, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The first session of the exam starts at 11am and the second begins at 1pm, according to Jallad.

He also noted that the vocational training examination will begin on December 5 and continue for five days. The schedule will be published on the ministry's website www.moe.gov.jo and distributed to education directorates and all secondary schools in the Kingdom, according to Jallad. 

AMMAN — Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Khaled Kalaldeh on Sunday said the new draft elections law is an important step on the path to implement the Royal vision and the government’s plan towards political reform.

Kalaldeh made his remarks during a meeting held by the Independent Elections Commission at its headquarters, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Also on Sunday, the We Are All Jordan Youth Commission-Mafraq branch held a panel discussion on the draft law in cooperation with the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development.

During the panel, Osama Tleilan, head of the political committee at the Jordanian National Party, said having a strong opposition in the Lower House enhances the integrity of the election process.