Committee to ensure private schools abide by new regulations

AMMAN — The Education Ministry has formed an ad hoc committee to ensure private education institutions abide by the regulations, an informed source said Thursday.

The panel will take legal measures against private schools found in violation of the regulations, the ministry's spokesperson, Walid Jallad, noted.

In a statement received by The Jordan Times on Thursday, the ministry said a number of private schools have so far rectified their situation and paid fines imposed on them for violating the regulations by enrolling more students than the specified capacity granted to them in their licences.

"This is a very positive step, and we call on all schools to follow suit," Jallad said.

The by-law approved by the Cabinet last December includes provisions related to the physical environment of private schools, the number of students and specifications of school yards.

Under the regulations, which went into effect this year, private schools are required to address any violations related to their buildings, including the need to vacate premises that are deemed residential and the necessity of having indoor yards.

Schools should also calculate the number of students they are allowed to accept based on their area in square metres, making sure that each student has an area of one square metre in classrooms and two square metres in the yard.

However, the Private School Owners Association claims that the by-law would result in closing down 75 per cent of private schools and kindergartens across the Kingdom, and the letting go of more than 100,000 students, 12,000 teachers and other staff.

In response to the accusations, the ministry decided last week to sue the association for publishing "misleading" facts.

The ministry accused the association of circulating "false" information on the number of schools that are expected to close down under the new regulations, saying that "many" school owners have underlined that they are not members of the association and that it does not represent them.