His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday visited the southern town of Jafr where he inaugurated the Al Jafr Knowledge Station, established to enhance the ICT skills of local residents and improve their employment prospects.

The knowledge station, created upon the King's directives, offers free education in ICT, including basic computer skills and Internet use and is equipped with 10 computer workstations.

The initiative, launched by the King Abdullah II Fund for Development in September 2000 in the remote desert town of Safawi, aims to bridge the digital divide and spread ICT learning among all segments of society.

Currently, there are 114 such stations around the country, serving more than 130,000 citizens.

During the visit, the King also laid the foundation stone for a new basic school to reduce overcrowding in the town's other facility.

The 800-square-metre, two-storey school will include seven classrooms, a kindergarten, science and computer labs, yards and a sports field.

According to the director of the Maan Education Department, the new facility will cater to 250-300 children from kindergarten to the 10th grade.

During talks with the representatives of the town, the King assured them that health facilities in the area would be improved and the current healthcare centre would be upgraded to a comprehensive centre.

Residents currently have to travel 70 kilometres to the Governorate of Maan to receive comprehensive healthcare.

King Abdullah also issued instructions to install filters at the wells which supply the town's water.

More than 25 per cent of Al Jafr's 7,000 population live below the poverty line, according to official figures.

“I will personally follow up on your demands with the governor and the government to reduce the problems you face and help you overcome the challenges,” said the King.

The Jordan Times