Jubaiha, Jordan – May 24, 2010 – The Community Mobilization for Partnership in Schools (CMP) Program, funded by USAID and implemented by IRD, hosted a visit by Senior Deputy Assistance Administrator for USAID, Anne Aarnes; Deputy Mission Director, Dana Mansouri; and the Director of the Social Sectors Office, Edith Houston. They were enthusiastically received by the principal of the school, CPSC members, students, and the local Boy Scout troupe made up of students of the school. The distinguished guests took a tour of the school renovations, which is being completed through the USAID-funded Jordan Schools Construction Project (JSP), and met with the members of the CMP Community-Parent-School Coalition (CPSC) to discuss current issues.

The CMP Program develops dynamic, sustainable community-school partnerships that serve as sustainable mechanisms for the institutionalization of participatory approaches to educational reform and create a sense of ownership and responsibility among all stakeholders within the public school system. Bringing community members, students, parents, school administrators, teachers, the local private sector, and community-based organizations together to form CPSCs has greatly aided school improvement efforts and are strengthening the community/school support connections that facilitate life-long learning opportunities and extra-curricular programs within schools. “After CMP was implemented in our school, we have seen a big change,” said Ghazi Dweik, principal of the Jubaiha Boys School. “The coalition has been very active from the start, adding extra curricular activities, and overall being a strong force in the community. We have been able to make improvements to the school facilities, lower our drop-out rate, and we are now looking at how to expand our school facilities to accommodate the growing student body.”

The CMP project complements the ongoing USAID Jordan Schools Program, which provides needed rehabilitation to 100 existing public schools and is constructing 28 new schools. In addition to working in close cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Education, CMP has formed partnerships with groups on the cutting edge of community mobilization and educational advancement in Jordan. CMP partner, The Queen Rania Award for Excellence in Education has developed, in collaboration with IRD, criteria for community participation in its recently launched Principals’ Award, under which two of the four 2009 winners were principals of CMP schools.