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 Twenty-five years ago, Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan, wife of the then-Crown Prince Hassan, decided to educate her children within her own country, breaking with the tradition of sending members of the royal family to school in Europe. But she was not satisfied with the schools in her country. This is why she founded a new one.
Last week, I participated in an event promoted in Amman by the University of the United Nations and by its International Leadership Institute to discuss the future of the university worldwide. Taking advantage of my presence in the country, I went to visit that school, which today is directed by Princess Sumaya, daughter of Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath. For those Brazilians accustomed to belittling small countries, the visit to the Amman Baccalaureate School is a surprise. For other Brazilians unhappy with the situation of education in Brazil, a visit there leaves a taste of envy. With almost one thousand students between four and eighteen years of age, the school keeps them all in full-day sessions: four hours in pre-school; at least six in what we call elementary school; and up to eight hours in high school. At five years of age, all are literate in both Arabic and English. Beginning in pre-school, the students familiarize themselves with the use of computers and all the modern pedagogical equipment of television and educational videos. The Amman Baccalaureate School is an example of a private school, although 10% of its students are on scholarship. But in these twenty-five years, it has had a role in inducing improvements in the entire public school system. Obviously, this school is a private solution; there are similar ones in Brazil. What is different about it, however, is that in these twenty-five years it has given direction to the public education sector, despite its origins in the royal family. A conversation with the Jordanian Minister of Education shows the effects that example carried to the rest of Jordan. With a per capita income of US$ 1,750 per year, no oil, water, or any natural resources, Jordan has 100% of its children in school in full-day sessions. Its teachers receive a salary with a floor of US$ 300 in addition to the benefits of a special healthcare program and housing for the entire teaching staff. A specific ministry for K-12 education maintains these national standards, which are the same throughout the country, with no difference between one city and another. Another ministry is in charge of university education. In Jordan, schooling is obligatory until completion of high school. No child stays out of school. Seventy-eight percent of the young people finish high school, as opposed to 35% of Brazilian youths. In Brazil, we have a per capita income two times greater than Jordan's and two times fewer young people finishing high school. All Jordanian schools are open from 8 A.M. to 2 P.M. but when there is need of reinforcement, the students remain there up to eight hours per day. The illiteracy rate is 3.5% for the entire population, both men and women. For men less than 40 years of age, it is practically zero. It has been two decades since King Hussein declared that the name of development is "education," and the consequences of this priority can now be seen. Today Jordan is an exporter of science and technology. It is the principal center of medicine in the Middle East. Besides drawing tourists to its archeological ruins, the country has a strong "medical tourism" industry of people traveling there from other countries in search of medical treatment. When I saw the network of hospitals that attract "tourists" seeking healthcare, I remembered the show on the O Globo TV network two weeks earlier about the sexual tourism targeting children in Brazil. If Jordan was capable of doing this, why did Brazil not do it as well? Because it never decided to do so. Because education and children are relegated to a secondary place in Brazil. In the trips that he makes around the world, our President visits banks and businesses instead of seeking a little knowledge about what other countries do in the field of education. Because to change an itinerary, you have to change your priorities ahead of time. Cristovam Buarque has a Ph.D. in economics. He is a PDT senator for the Federal District and was Governor of the Federal District (1995-98) and Minister of Education (2003-04). You can visit his homepage - www.cristovam.com.br - and write to him at cristovam@senador.gov.br. Translated from the Portuguese by Linda Jerome - LinJerome@cs.com.
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2005 
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sex
...go elsewhere !
Well known fact.