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Background to the project
Bridging
the gap between parents, teachers and children
In Jordan, parents
want to be involved with their children's education. But sometimes may not know
that there is a Parent Teachers Association (PTA) at their local school.
Through the PTA Project, this need has been addressed. The PTA project
mobilizes the community, helps them understand how they can be involved,
provides parents with the necessary knowledge and skills to interact more
effectively with the school. It also strengthens the necessary formal
structures so that parents have a more important voice in decision-making about
their children's education. There are now five active PTAs in five public
schools, the PTA programme is now being replicated in other parts of the
Kingdom.
Education
Reform: Preparing for a knowledge economy
The concept
of a PTA is not new to Jordan;
in many schools (both private and public), PTAs have been very active.
However, in other communities, especially where there are limited resources, or
where the school is geographically or socially isolated, it has been more
difficult for parents and teachers to maintain an active role for the PTA. Now,
with significant investment being made in the upgrading of the whole of the
education system with upgrading of infrastructure, the provision of
state-of-the art equipment, redesign of the curriculum, and the training of
teachers in new methodologies, it is of vital importance that parents are
fully involved in the process. During the design phase of the ERfKE project,
the need to strengthen the parent-teacher linkages became clear. The PTA,.a
collaboration between the Ministry of Education, Counterpart International and
JOHUD, addresses this need.
Life-long
learning - involving the whole community
The school
is at the heart of any community: for every family, it provides a unique space
where their children gain the necessary knowledge, skills and self- confidence
to allow them to develop to their full potential as adults. The school also
strengthens the whole community, reinforcing the positive moral, social and
cultural values that create the strong fabric of Jordanian society. As
more parents, teachers, administrators, children and community leaders
participate actively in promoting life-long education and learning, the social,
economic and political development of Jordan is enhanced.
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Main achievements
In Aqaba
alone, five public schools in rural areas now have active PTAs with XX members
XX parents and carers have participated in PTA activities
The five
PTAs have so far organized vents in support of their local school
The Aqaba
PTA members have worked with other PTA groups outside the governorate to
advise them on how to run a PTA
A
guidebook: “How to run a successful PTA” – the first of its kind in Jordan has been
published and is being used as a shared learning tool for all PTAs nationwide
A
documentary film capturing lessons learnt from the pilot phase,
is being used as a resource for all PTAs.
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