A point of view on the path of returning to school

In an atmosphere marked by security and stability, our dear students have returned to school to start at the outset of pulchritudinous month of September the new academic year with determination to be educated, to make friends, and to grow up with all aspects of life. We thank God for the blessing conveyed by schools, which provide students with ample opportunities to develop their talents and realize their dreams. We thank God for the blessing of schools that provides large opportunities for our students to develop their talents and multiply their dreams.

In our dear Jordan, there are innumerable numbers of schools, both public and private. Parents have the choice to select the "appropriate" schools for their children based on their locations and their financial standards.

Based on my daily work and interactions with all shades of society, I realize that the current and future generations fall into two categories, namely those who follow the national curricula, during which continuous and strenuous efforts are being exerted to elevate them to a global level, while taking into account national education, which is essential in all schools and must be available there.

There are, of course, students who pursue foreign curricula which are present in our schools. However, what I notice and which poses a major threat is the significant weakness in the Arabic language. Those who follow this "system" study in English and have no concern with the Arabic language. There are several parents who speak English with their children, as schools and families are in this case in compliance that the Arabic language gets on the wane among their children.

In church, I have several students who say that they neither understand the prayers nor the weekly sermons. They demand that we turn Sunday prayers into English. I don't know where this will take us.

Let us work together to save the Arabic language in schools that follow "the foreign system" by introducing Arabic as a primary requirement, and may parents strive to speak Arabic with their children.

I am worried not only about having students who do not know Arabic, but also regarding the fact of having two mentalities, namely the local system which based on learning by rote and the foreign system based on reflection, scrutiny, and deduction. Further to this, is the discrimination that may be in place due to the social and financial circumstances of families. There are private schools that follow commercial bases. Yet, there are non-commercial schools that are affiliated with the Church which existed more than 170 years ago in this holy land. These schools still continue to care for poor students who seek to receive an education in an environment chosen by their families, while such schools provide religious education to all students.

Best wishes are conveyed to our honorable parents, as well to administrative and academic members of staff. Best wishes are also conveyed to the students returning to shook or those who are getting enrolled for the first time. Let us not forget to pray for the suffering children of Gaza who are deprived of the basic necessities  of life, the most  important of which are food and water, as well as the foremost of which is education. May God support them.

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