Minister Paradis and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah witness the signing of a letter of intent on Canada-Jordan education partnerships
May 29, 2014 - Toronto, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today attended the signing ceremony of a letter of intent outlining Canada’s support to education commitments with Jordan.
The signing event took place on the margins of the Prime Minister’s Saving Every Woman, Every Child: Within Arm’s Reach Summit, in Toronto, at which Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah is a keynote speaker. The Summit is bringing together Canadian experts and global leaders to shape the future of global action on maternal, newborn and child health, Canada’s top development priority.
“Education is a key component of securing a future for children and youth, and is one of Canada’s development priorities. It is a fundamental building block toward living a full and productive life,” said Minister Paradis. “Jordan’s education system has been under increased pressure and demand given the influx of refugees from the conflict in Syria. Canadian support will enable the training of teachers, and the improvement of children’s education across the country.”
The letter signed today formalizes Canada’s support to education partnerships with the Queen Rania Foundation and Jordan’s Ministry of Education. The initiatives will help improve schools, strengthen the capacity of the Ministry, and support training teachers, developing an accountability framework and improving professional development.
Canada and Jordan are in their 50th year of diplomatic relations and enjoy an exceptionally close bilateral connection. Canada’s development cooperation program with Jordan has been ongoing for more than 27 years. For the past several years, the core priorities of this program have focused on education and the economic empowerment of women and youth.
Quick Facts
New education partnerships will include but will not be limited to: support of up to $20 million over 3 years to the Ministry of Education in Jordan; and up to $20 million over 5 years to the Queen Rania Teachers Academy, an affiliate of the Queen Rania Foundation. Canada has increased development assistance to Jordan in response to the massive influx of Syrian refugees. With the announcement made by Prime Minister Harper during his visit to Jordan in January 2014, the level of Canadian bilateral development assistance has increased to $185 million over six years.
The Saving Every Woman, Every Child: Within Arm’s Reach Summit is building on Canada’s leadership and bringing together Canadian and international leaders and experts, Canadian civil society, businesses, scientists, developed and developing countries, international organizations and global foundations to ensure that maternal, newborn and child health remains a priority of the global development agenda
Contacts
Sandrine Perion
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie 819-953-9528
sandrine.perion@international.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
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