News
Talal Abu-Ghazaleh's Field Visit to Mafraq and Northern Badia Region
24-Apr-2017
Al-Mafraq and Northern Badia - The Governor of Al Mafraq, Dr. Ahmed Al-Zu'bi and Administrative Officer (Mutasarrif) of Northern Badia, Dr. Malik Khreisat, received Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh during a field visit organized for His Excellency to meet citizens, community leaders and dignitaries of Mafraq and North Badia .
During the visit, which included the Governorate and Mutassarifia administration premises, Dr. Abu Ghazaleh met with many representatives from the region and its institutions, who provided a quick review of the issues and problems faced by the region and stressed the importance for continued regional development for utilizing the best methods for knowledge enhancement.
Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh emphasized the importance of continued development of all Governorates and regions of the Kingdom without exception, in particular the Badia region. He pointed out that a Committee tasked with the preparation of a Badia Development Plan has already been set up at the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum, to follow up on all issues and problems raised with all concerned parties. At the same time, His Excellency promised to carry out several Youth focused skills enhancing development projects to improve their competitiveness and employability in the labor market, especially in fields for which job opportunities are available in the region.
Another aim of the Committee will be to discuss the rehabilitation of Baghdad Road and to provide coverage of the region's news and activities through Jordan Television and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Radio for Business and Culture. Additionally, it will discuss ways to support the developmental project “The Martyr’s Square” and will undertake the renovation of the Governorate Hall for the use of Mafraq and Badia citizens. Dr. Abu Ghazaleh offered to meet all the costs of the Hall's renovation and equipment.
Additionally, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh addressed the problem of the underdeveloped and under-equipped knowledge centers in the region by donating computers to the learning centers that provide training programs and digital education applications; in addition to a TAG Cambridge Certified English language Teaching Center will be established in the region.
He also confirmed his full support for the establishment of an electronic library and employment opportunities database for Badia and the development zone. He expressed his support for the preparation of an action plan designed to teach women to work from home via the internet (similar to the plan already implemented by TAG-Org in Saudi Arabia and Palestine), in order to supplement their household’s income.
The area of vocational and professional development was addressed in relation to the school in the Al-Salihiyeh area where the meeting was conducted. Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh promised to follow up with the Ministry of Education on a request for permission to include the teaching of sustainable development in the curricula and to fill the relevant available posts with youth from the region. He also promised to establish a fully furnished knowledge center equipped with computers and free access to the internet for school students at his own expense.
During the meeting, H.E Dr. Ahmed Al Zu'bi, Governor of Mafraq, welcomed HE Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh, and underlined that The Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum will examine and address each issue raised and proposal made in a knowledge-based manner through specialized working teams comprising experts and specialists in relevant fields, as well as those concerned with knowledge education, knowledge infrastructure, knowledge economy, knowledge government and Knowledge social justice, with a focus on digital education and its dissemination to those wishing to obtain access to it. He specifically commended the Talal Abu Ghazaleh Organization project of "teaching Syrian refugees in the Zaatari camp "funded through a European and British grant, which enabled Syrian refugees obtain university degrees Online from the best universities in the world from their place of residence. "
He added: "We - citizens of Mafraq Governorate in general and in Northern Badia in particular - hope to have full support to develop the Badia so as to turn it into a scientific monument with the aim of improving the quality of life and achieving sustainable development for its population through the optimal utilization of the human resources and management of the natural resources of the desert."
For his part, the Mutasarrif of the Northern Badia, Dr. Malik Khreisat, stressed the significance of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh’s visit and the importance of considering the particular problems and issues from which the region suffers, taking into account its location at close proximity to the borders of three neighboring Arab countries.
He added that Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh’s successful visit marks a special day resulting in many actions and decisions that will contribute -in cooperation with various stakeholders (from the government and the private sector)- to the development and advancement of the region, continuing on the same path and following the footsteps of our predecessors who were concerned with the development of Northern Badia in particular, and of all the Badia regions as a whole. He went on to express his great appreciation for all measures to be implemented by TAG-Org, especially by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Knowledge Forum as well as the personal efforts and support of Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh at all levels.
During the meeting with members of the local community held at Al-Badia vocational/professional school in Al-Salihiya, the participants described the most prominent problems and challenges hindering development and advancement of the region as well as the obstacles faced by its highly qualified and experienced youth including centralization and a slow developmental process within the region. Further adding to the challenges facing regional development, is the lack of consideration regarding the correlation between infrastructure development and educational outcomes.