The Director-General commended Jordan for its leadership and dedication to ensuring that cultural heritage remains high on the regional and International agenda.

Both the Director-General and His Excellency Mr Al Safadi agreed on the importance of the key role of education in the prevention of youth extremism.

“Education is a security imperative,” said the Director-General, highlighting that Jordan continues to contribute to and benefit from regional initiatives in the context of UNESCO’s regional response to the Syria Crisis. She also informed the Minister of UNESCO’s new project in Jordan for the prevention of violent extremism that would focus on equipping young people with tools and skills to act as key stakeholders in preventing violent extremism through media and culture education.

In this context, the Minister underlined that “education is not only a necessary reform but a key component in preventing violent extremism”.

Discussions continued on building cross-cultural and interfaith understanding, as well as the safeguarding and preserving of cultural heritage.

The Director-General met separately with His Excellency Dr Omar Razzaz, the Minister of Education, to discuss the priorities for cooperation in the fields of education, especially focusing on teachers training.

The Director-General stressed the fact that teachers are the most influential and powerful force for equity, access as well as key stakeholders in building the critical thinking and transmitting that today’s learners need. The Minister emphasized that quality teachers, and school principals are key to sustainable global development and that their training, recruitment, retention, status and working conditions are among Jordan’s top priorities, which perfectly match with those of UNESCO. The Director-General and the Minister have agreed on exploring the possibility of organizing a regional event on global citizenship education in Jordan.

Earlier in the morning, the Director-General participated in the Opening of SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) in the presence of His Majesty King Abdullah II. She met with several Ministers and high level representatives from International Organizations. The Director-General also met with Her Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas and will conclude her visit at a hosted dinner by Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, Co-Chair of the World Science Forum.