Jordan's Queen Rania on Monday (September 17th) launched the Edraak K-12 platform, expressing optimism that it can help address the region’s urgent need for free and accessible quality education materials based on modern teaching methods in the Arabic language, The Jordan Times reported.
The Edraak K-12 platform, which caters to school-aged children throughout the Arab World, is an expansion of Edraak.org, the leading Arabic Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) platform for adult learners, a statement from the queen's office said.
Held at the Edraak offices in Amman, the launch ceremony was attended by Minister of Education Azmi Mahafza, Minister of ICT Mothanna Gharaibeh, CEO of the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development (QRF) Bassem Saad and CEO of Edraak Shireen Yacoub.
"We started by launching Math materials for grades six to 12, but we are not stopping here because our students deserve much more than this," Queen Rania said.
"Today, the Internet is replete with e-learning resources that students around the world can utilise in conjunction with their core school curricula as means for revision, practice, or learning support," she said.
"Unfortunately, most of these resources are in English, and hence Jordanian and Arab students are likely to miss out," she added.
This gap constituted the basis for launching Edraak K-12, she said, which aims to provide children, parents, and teachers with educational resources similar to those readily available online in English.
"Education in Jordan and the region is in need of an overhaul. Reforming education requires focusing on multiple interconnected facets, including infrastructure, teacher training, curricula modernisation, and early childhood education," she said.
"Initiatives similar to Edraak K-12 are also an integral facet to the reform process," she added.
