The Latin Patriarchate school system in Jordan has undertaken a new system of supervision, bringing experienced teachers from the field to supervise and assist their colleagues, instead of hiring outside supervisors with little teaching experience in the Latin Patriarchate school system.
Sponsored by the Spanish Cooperation (AECID) and the FPSC, LPS Jordan director Fr. Imad Twal held a workshop last week, from August 25 to August 27, to train thirty-two teachers from the school system in supervision. Teachers were selected from each of the twenty-five LP schools in Jordan, from which 15 would be chosen at the conclusion of the workshop to become supervisors. The workshop was led by Dr. Hanan Mdanat, an education specialist from within the Latin Patriarchate. Faiez S´oudy, the Director of the Private Schools Department in the Ministry of Education, expressed his encouragement for the participants. The Spanish Cooperation was represented by its Director of the Technical Office in Jordan, Gregorio Marañon, and FPSC was represented by Sofia Sainz de Aja and Micaela O´Herron.
One goal of the workshop was to show the teachers that change needs effort and time, and that the supervisor should not impose change but support the teachers and give them new ideas to make their own decisions on.
The workshop stressed the need for unification among the schools, to create a single manual and standard among all the schools. Through interactive group projects, teachers brainstormed on how to fill the void between student’s private backgrounds and public lives, and integrate students from varied religious, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Dr. Mdanat presented approaches for supervisors to take towards the teachers, stressing their role as mutual peers and not superiors; the teachers discussed problems they faced in their careers and possible solutions. Topics were discussed such as strategies, capacities and characteristics of supervisors, the philosophy of education and how it specifically applies to Jordan, and interactive decision-making.
Finally, the teachers were encouraged to get to know each other through many “icebreakers” and group projects; as the LP schools are spread widely throughout the country, the teachers often do not know other teachers in the school system. With their interaction, the strength of the Latin Patriarchate network was made stronger, and teachers understood better the foundation and mission of their schools.
The demographics of Jordan are complex. Its population of 6 million includes close to two million Palestinian refugees, many of whom live in refugee camps near Amman. In addition, around 100,000 wealthy Iraqi businessmen have come to Amman in the last few years, escaping the US Invasion of Iraq. This has caused prices in Jordan to suddenly rise, while wages have remained the same, making it difficult for ordinary people to afford everyday expenses. Against this turmoil, the fight against ignorance and discrimination during childhood is crucial.
Founded in 1853, the Latin Patriarchate currently has twenty-five schools in Jordan, in the three regions of the North, Center and South; unlike other private schools, many of the LP schools operate in small villages, giving rural students access to quality education equal to their urban counterparts. Gender distribution is almost equal in the school system, and the percentages of Chritians and Muslims is also almost equal. The LP system employs over 1,000 individuals and educates 13,000 students annually in Jordan. The schools provide as many scholarships as possible to disadvantaged students, and thus rely on sponsorship. “Without help from our Spanish donors, we could not do what we do,” says George Ghattas, director of the AECID programme. The Latin Patriarchate schools work hard to change the public image of private schools, from an image of schools for only wealthy children to one of schools that treat all children with equality and dignity.