Amman: The Lower House on Monday heard government answers to 11 queries by MPs on a host of sectors, including investment, education, tourism, and transport, during a session chaired by Speaker Mazen Qadi and attended by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and cabinet ministers.
According to Jordan News Agency, among the questions addressed in the oversight session of Parliament's second ordinary session was one on Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission procedures concerning appointments, job vacancies, and periodic reviews to evaluate performance. Transport Minister Nidal Qatamin responded in writing, explaining that appointments at the commission are conducted under the Public Sector Human Resources Management System and follow the instructions on selection and employment in government positions. He noted that employee performance evaluation is based on performance records and the annual report approved by the Civil Service Commission.
Minister of Education Azmi Mahafzah informed the session that 701 public schools across the Kingdom currently have no janitors, leading the ministry to hire daily workers. He mentioned that the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Sector Development, is considering contracting a private company for cleaning services in schools.
Lawmakers raised concerns about recent weather conditions in the Kingdom, urging increased funding for governorate councils and prompt maintenance and rehabilitation work on affected infrastructure. They also demanded compensation for communities affected by the recent storm, acknowledging the cabinet's allocation of JD10 million for repairs.
MPs called for comprehensive plans for the construction of new dams, the expansion of existing ones, and the removal of sediment that reduces storage capacity. Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri stated that the government discussed additional measures to ensure proper drainage of rainwater, alongside the Prime Minister's directive to allocate funds from emergency expenditures to those eligible for compensation.
Lawmakers expressed gratitude to the government for reviewing the minimum grade point average requirement for international students in Jordan. They urged the Higher Education Ministry to allocate 1% of its revenue to educational tourism marketing, aiming to attract more Arab students to Jordanian universities.