Educational Equality
The creation of a new, modern and competitive Jordan starts with the basics. For the JOC and our fellow Jordanians living in the “New Jordan”, there is nothing more important and basic to foster the growth of a nation than an education. In this part of the platform, the JOC wants to make the following concept crystal clear: The JOC’s goal is to help the “New Jordan” develop an education system that meets global standards, is open to everyone in the country and does so by training Jordanians to compete in the ever-expanding international marketplace. This will be accomplished by:
· EDUCATIONAL THEME OR MOTTO: “New Jordan’s” educational motto will be: “Education is the highest form of Service Jordanians can give to their country”;
· Eliminate the quota system: The current system is stacked against the average Jordanian. Currently, those who support the King get first options on education, and as such, take up all available educational slots. In the “New Jordan”, education will be open for all – male or female, young or old, regardless of religion or economic status;
· Expand Schools and Universities: To meet the needs of an expanded learning base, a “New Jordan” will work hard to construct modern facilities at all educational levels, with establishing world class Universities being our #1 goal;
· Exclusive Clubs: The JOC will push the “New Jordan” to end the “exclusive clubs” where entry into a program is assigned directly by the King’s office, and is only provided to privileged people who are favored by the regime. We want to make this clear – after the Pandemic, the “New Jordan” must provide an education to everyone who wants it;
· Ending Tawjeehi (The examination system): Ending the Jordanian unified high school examination or “Tawjeehi” system. If the “New Jordan” is to compete effectively in the world marketplace, Jordan’s economic system needs to be revamped because the current exam system is intimidating, torturous and not cost effective. As a result, thousands of people are denied an education and this harms the country;
· Professional Careers: Upon accepting more students, the JOC expects students to fill vacancies in the following critical areas: Education (Teachers), Engineering, Financial Literacy, Law, Medicine and Science. As a result, the “New Jordan” government will push for the creation of programs that foster the development of professionals in those areas;
· Standards for each University: Universities will have the ability to establish their own standards and admission requirement(s). This will allow schools to abandon standardized testing and thus conduct their own exams;
· Faculty: With new schools and programming, will come the attraction of international faculty members – of all ages, races, religions, and sexes;
· THE American University OF AMMAN: With an expanded faculty, the American University in Amman will serve as a regional hub for undergraduate and graduate studies and research in the region. The University’s mission statement will serve as a beacon of hope, peace and prosperity for those living not just in the “New Jordan”, but the greater Middle East as a whole;
· Regional Agreements and purpose: The new education system will establish educational agreements and protocols with all neighbors, including Israel, that touch “New Jordan’s” borders. As Jordan implements these plans, other educational agreements will be reached with other countries in an effort to expand and exchange academic knowledge, dialogue, and tolerance while training our citizens to compete in the world of tomorrow. The purpose of establishing Jordan as regional hub and a link between competing education system is to not only open Jordan to new thoughts and ways to address issues, but to prepare our graduates to compete both with and against their western counterparts;
· EDUCATIONAL LOANS AND TAX INCENTIVES: At all levels, student loan and tax incentive programs will be enacted. The programs will benefit all of those who want to attend school, and for those who graduate. Graduation rewards will be related to the amount of school attended and the degree(s) earned;
· SAMPLE PROGRAMS: In an effort to create a viable working middle class and jobs that put food on the table, the “New Jordan” will create and adopt plans that provide small business loans to those who graduate using the following conceptual criteria:
o Anyone graduating from High School will receive a loan of $1,500;
o Anyone graduating from 2-year college graduate will receive a loan of $3,500;
o Anyone graduating from 4-year college graduate will receive a loan of $10,000;
o Anyone graduating with a MA degree will receive a loan of $20,000;
o Anyone graduating with a Doctorate will receive a loan of $35,000;
· COMPUTERS: All graduates will receive computers and internet access upon applying for and entering the next level of schooling. As one graduates, the ‘technological support will increase’;
· INCOME TAX EXCEMPTIONS: No person who is eligible for, or participates in, this program will pay personal income taxes for 2 years after graduation from either high school or trade school, and 4 years after graduation from college. The exemption will include a 6-year period for those who graduate from secondary school. Additionally, the “New Jordan” will establish tax Incentives, for educating, training and hiring those designated by the United Nations as refugees;
· EDUCATORS: The “New Jordan” will support “Living Wages” for all Educators;
· Trade Schools: to jumpstart the economy, Jordan will accept bids from international schools that will specifically train Jordanians. The focus will be on schools that provide the following services:
o Plumbing and other related trades
o Transportation (bus drivers)
o Financial Literacy
o Heavy Equipment
o Construction
o Technology
o Medical support
o Mechanics
o Educators
o Others as needed or suggested
o Office Professionals
Educational Equality For All
“Education is the highest form of Service Jordanians can give to their country”
As mentioned above, the JOC Education Platform declares that everyone in the nation is equal under the law, and as such, are entitled to an education, regardless of race, background, religion, sex, sect, or life style. This concept will support enhanced lifestyles and diversity, and will be implemented at every grade level regardless of age, sex or religion. Equality in the school system will be enacted by writing:
· Constitutional provisions declaring that all Jordanians are equal under the law;
· Counter-discrimination laws criminalizing discrimination of all types;
· Affirmative action laws and program that support Constitutional actions;
· Hate crimes statutes that maximize penalties for crimes motivated by or associated hate towards race, background, religion, sex, sect or life style;
· The creation, support and implementation of “Educational Commandments”.
The 10 Commandments of Education
Supported by the above motto “Education is the highest form of Service Jordanians can give to their country”, the JOC has created the following “Educational Commandments” for Institutions, Educators and Students.
Educational Institutions
“World Class Institutions For Tomorrow’s Economic Competition”
The JOC will enhance and develop the Jordanian education system, using global standards:
· Expanding Jordan’s university system by expanding or constructing facilities and accepting more students into critical majors such as medicine and law;
· Ending “exclusive clubs” where entry into a program is assigned directly by the King’s office;
· Ending the Jordanian Tawjeehi while making admission to universities based on each university’s standards and own admission requirement(s);
· Inaugurating the American University in Amman, which will have international faculty members who are Western educated;
· Establishing education agreements with other countries that fosters the exchange of academic knowledge and students;
· Provide Educational Professionals with regular salary increases and continuing education;
· Attract Education Professionals from other nations to teach in our school system;
· Create trade programs that will provide Jordanians with quality work skills.
Educators
“The Bedrock Of The Nation’s Educational System”
1) Delivery of quality Personal Protective Equipment for protection from the Coved 19 virus;
2) Unionization of all Educators into collective bargaining units;
3) Release of Educators from jail who have been imprisoned for peaceful protesting;
4) The expungement of the criminal records for all Educators who were arrested for protesting;
5) Enhanced credentials and payment waivers for all educators who were arrested protesting;
6) All educators will be declared Essential Workers, similar to Drs. and Nurses;
7) Educator tax breaks for those who spend their own money on classroom supplies;
8) Establish and/or enhance an Educator’s pension fund;
9) Help with obtaining Educational, Home and Consumer loans at reduced interest rates;
10) Enhanced credit ratings.
Students
Education-For-Jobs Grants, Loans & Tax Incentives
In an effort to create a viable working class and jobs that put quality food on the table, we will adopt plans that provide small business loans to those who qualify using the following conceptual criteria:
· Anyone graduating from High School will receive a loan of $1,500 aimed at financing any form of occupational skills, foreign languages, life skills, or a trip abroad for education purposes.
· Anyone enrolled in a 2-year college will receive a loan of up to $3,500.
· Anyone enrolled in a 4-year college graduate will receive a loan of up to $20,000
· Anyone enrolled in graduate degree in the level of master’s will receive a loan of up to $15,000
· Anyone enrolled with a Doctorate will receive a loan of up to $35,000.
· Anyone enrolled in any undergraduate or graduate program at ether an American Ivy League university, Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Stanford University will receive full grant to cover their expenses from the Jordanian government.
· Anyone enrolled in any undergraduate or graduate program either Oxford or Cambridge universities of the UK will receive a full grant to cover their expenses from the Jordanian government.
· Anyone enrolled in any of NASA’s educational programs will receive a full grant covering their expenses in by the Jordanian government.
· Anyone enrolled in any graduate program in a preset designed American or British non-Ivy League, MIT, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, university will receive a grant to cover their expenses. The list of these universities will be based on the best universities in the US and UK that still do not top the list like Ivy League schools but still offer excellent education in certain fields.
No person who is eligible for, or participates in, this program will pay personal income taxes for 4 years after graduation. Additionally, we will establish tax incentives, for educating, training and hiring those designated by the United Nations as refugees.