Amman: Minister of Education, Dr. Azmi Mahafzeh, engaged in discussions with UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Tawfik Jelassi, on the pivotal role of media literacy in today’s digital age and the necessity of incorporating these concepts into educational curricula.
According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting took place during the Global Media and Information Literacy Week Conference in Amman. Dr. Mahafzeh emphasized the critical role decision-makers have in advancing youth media and information literacy, highlighting the ministry’s commitment to embedding media literacy into educational content. This initiative is part of broader curriculum development and learning system reforms aimed at integrating media literacy concepts into national policies and frameworks.
Dr. Mahafzeh further explained that this endeavor is integral to “lifelong” learning, designed to help students and teachers develop critical thinking skills, evaluate media, and manage information effectively. He
underscored the importance of capacity building and professional development, focusing on investing in teacher and community leader skills through training programs, workshops, and educational resources that enhance the implementation of media literacy concepts in their practices.
The minister also highlighted the necessity of forming partnerships with media organizations, civil society, and technology companies to promote responsible media practices. He emphasized the importance of raising community awareness about media literacy, training youth on the optimal use of media, combating rumors, and identifying reliable information sources through community awareness campaigns and the use of social media platforms.
Additionally, Dr. Mahafzeh called for providing underprivileged communities with essential digital tools and skills, as well as affordable internet services. He urged collaboration with internet companies to integrate media literacy into their platforms and advocated for the development of evidence-
based policies and supporting legislative and regulatory frameworks.
In his remarks, Dr. Mahafzeh also touched upon Jordan’s vocational and technical education, noting its significant importance for the youth. Meanwhile, Tawfik Jelassi stressed the critical need for reliable media content, particularly on social platforms that are often rife with misleading information, fake news, hate speech, and violence. He reiterated the importance of embedding media literacy within educational content to empower young people to discern reliable news sources.