His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday directed the government to install central heating at public schools across the Kingdom in a muti-phase project.

The Royal initiative is a reflection of King Abdullah’s keenness on enhancing the education sector and improving the school environment for students of all ages and in all areas.

In the first phase of the project, funded by His Majesty, central heating will be installed this year in 50 schools located in “extremely cold areas” based on priority, while the government will undertake the implementation of the project’s following phases to cover all public schools.

In parallel with this initiative, the King directed officials at the Royal Hashemite Court to study all available options, especially renewable energy utilisation, to provide heating at public schools.

The pilot project will be studied and then implemented in two schools in the first phase, whereby they will be provided with heating through solar power.

If proved successful, the project will then be implemented in other public schools.

A committee of representatives from the education and public works ministries, headed by Royal Hashemite Court Secretary General Yousef Issawi, who is also president of a panel entrusted with following up on the implementation of Royal initiatives, will supervise the first phase of the project.

According to official figures, there are 3,760 public schools in Jordan, where 1.287 million students are enrolled and around 80,000 teachers and 10,000 principals work.

The Jordan Teachers Association on Saturday welcomed His Majesty’s gesture.

In a statement, the syndicate said installing central heating at schools will “improve” the performance of teachers and students, leading to “a quantum leap” in plans to enhance school environment.