NCCD approves 65 new school textbooks as part of curriculum overhaul
AMMAN — The National Centre for Curriculum Development (NCCD) said on Sunday that it has approved 65 new school textbooks, including student books, workbooks, activity materials, and teacher guides, spanning various academic subjects from kindergarten through Year 12.
In a statement, the Centre said the newly approved materials cover Arabic language, Islamic education, English language, science, mathematics, digital skills, and early childhood education.
Among the most notable additions are the kindergarten resources, which include image cards, story collections, and practical guides for teachers to support early learning.
The Islamic education curriculum has been expanded with new textbooks and teacher guides for Years 2, 5, and 8, as well as the Year 12 textbook for the academic stream's first semester, the statement said.
The English language curriculum saw the release of student books, workbooks, and teacher guides for Years 2, 4, 10, and 12 (advanced level). Updated Arabic language teacher guides were also introduced for Years 4, 7, and 10.
For Year 12 students, new science and mathematics materials were approved, including textbooks and experiment/activity books in chemistry, physics, biology, and earth and environmental sciences. Mathematics textbooks and workbooks for the first semester were also finalised, following earlier drafts published on the NCCD website, the statement said.
The Centre said these curricular reforms were part of its ongoing efforts to modernise Jordan's national curriculum in line with international best practices and the evolving needs of the education sector, while adhering to the philosophical and legal foundations of Jordanian education.
The reforms also aim to strengthen critical thinking, integrate linguistic and digital competencies, and uphold national and religious values.
All new materials were developed in accordance with modern academic and pedagogical standards, drawing on input from specialised authoring and review committees. The NCCD also ensured that content accounts for students' diverse needs and individual learning differences.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Bawaba
11 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Markaz Sponsors Vertical Farming Facility at The English School to Empower Future Environmental Leaders
Kuwait Financial Centre 'Markaz' announces its sponsorship of an innovative educational initiative in partnership with The English School (TES), providing students with hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in sustainable agriculture and its applications through vertical farming inside the school. The sponsorship reflects the 'building human capacity' pillar of Markaz's corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy by equipping students with future-ready skills, fostering environmental responsibility and developing the knowledge and critical thinking skills needed to confront global challenges through localized initiative offers students the opportunity to explore vertical farming through a school-based facility designed for indoor sustainable agriculture. It introduces them to the types of crops that can be cultivated through these systems and explains how they can help address food security challenges. In doing so, the project also demonstrates the wider potential of vertical farming as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for future food the significance of the project, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Markaz, Ms. Sondos Saad, said: 'We are proud to partner with The English School on this impactful initiative, which introduces students to practical approaches to vertical farming. It reflects our firm belief that education rooted in real-world engagement is key to enabling the next generation of changemakers. By raising environmental awareness and promoting responsible resource use, this project encourages students to think innovatively about how local initiatives can drive global impact."Ms. Alison Peterson, TES Principal stated: "Thanks to the sponsorship of Markaz. Our fantastic vertical farming facility will be an integral part of the education process. This project reflects curiosity, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of how science, technology, and care for the planet all connect. In this space, our students won't just learn about photosynthesis from a textbook, they'll see it in action. In a world facing growing environmental challenges, vertical farming offers a glimpse into the future of agriculture, a future that TES students will help shape." Rooted in Markaz's ESG-driven approach to long-term value creation, this initiative demonstrates how the company translates its sustainability strategy into meaningful, community-based partnerships. It also reaffirms Markaz's commitment to advancing key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and Goal 13: Climate Action, by embedding these global principles into innovative educational models. The collaborative effort builds on a broader portfolio of national partnerships and programs supported by Markaz. Notable among them are the 'Kuwait Commute' design competition, which aims to advance the development of public transport in Kuwait, and the UniCODE program in collaboration with 'Coded' Academy, which equips youth with foundational skills in programming and technology. Such pioneering initiatives reinforce Markaz's role in developing human capital and driving knowledge-based progress in Kuwait. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Wamda
4 days ago
- Wamda
XPANCEO secures $250 million Series A at $1.35 billion valuation
UAE-based deeptech startup XPANCEO has raised $250 million in Series A funding at a $1.35 billion valuation. The round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia), which also led its earlier $40 million seed round. Founded by physicist Valentyn S. Volkov and Roman Axelrod, XPANCEO is developing a multifunctional smart contact lens, integrating AR, health monitoring, night vision, and optical zoom into a lens thinner than a human hair. The device aims to replace all personal gadgets with a single, seamless wearable. The funds will support commercialisation, expand the global R&D and product teams, and accelerate regulatory and pilot tests. Press release: XPANCEO, a Dubai‑based deep‑tech pioneer developing the world's first multifunctional smart contact lens, has raised $250 million in a Series A funding round, valuing the company at $1.35 billion. With this milestone — marking XPANCEO as the UAE's 12th unicorn — the company aims to fast‑track the commercialisation of its groundbreaking lens that integrates augmented reality, continuous health monitoring, night‑vision, and more, all within a device thinner than a human hair. The round was led by Opportunity Venture (Asia), which previously led XPANCEO's $40 million seed round. The funding will support the final development phase of the smart contact lens, expansion of the R&D, design, product and operations teams, and preparation for market launch — ultimately consolidating multiple wearable technologies into a single, invisible device. XPANCEO's lens embeds nanophotonics micro‑displays directly onto the retina, offering AR experiences with a 30° field of view using ultra‑low power (1–3 µW). Beyond AR, the lenses enable real‑time health monitoring, including intraocular pressure tracking for glaucoma and biochemical analysis of tear fluid for markers like glucose, cortisol, hormones, and key vitamins — significantly enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Additional innovations include wireless charging, night vision, optical zoom, and colour‑blindness correction, with applications across healthcare, industrial, defence, and consumer sectors. Co‑founded in 2019 by physicist Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov and serial entrepreneur Roman Axelrod, XPANCEO merges deep scientific research in nano‑optics and biosensing with commercial viability. The company has already produced 15 working prototypes and contributed to 110 science publications. Looking ahead, XPANCEO will deploy the funding to scale its talent base, advance regulatory approvals, and pilot test use cases in healthcare, defence, industrial AR, and consumer wearables — setting the stage to replace phones, glasses, and smartwatches with a unified wearable interface. Roman Axelrod, XPANCEO's Co‑Founder and Managing Partner: 'There's broad consensus across Big Tech that AI‑powered wearable XR is the future... With this funding, XPANCEO is poised to lead the post‑smartphone era.' Dr. Valentyn S. Volkov, Scientific Partner: 'Our team has pushed the boundaries of science... AI‑driven R&D enabled 15 prototypes and 110 scientific publications in months.' Philip Ma, Managing Director at Opportunity Venture (Asia): 'They're not just building a product; they're rewriting the rules of personal tech.'
Al Bawaba
7 days ago
- Al Bawaba
WCM-Q shares advances in neuromusicology with specialized centers in Jordan
Dr. Ghizlane Bendriss, a neuroscientist and esteemed faculty member at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q), recently visited Amman, Jordan, as part of a regional collaboration on music-based Bendriss is at the forefront of pioneering research on the effects of Arab music maqams (the melodic system used in Middle Eastern music) on brain physiology and her trip, she presented initial findings from her electroencephalogram (EEG) clinical trial on Arabic maqams and brain activity, which is the only study of its kind registered on The presentation took place at Crescendo Music & Art Academy, a well-established institute with comprehensive music and arts education, in the presence of ethnomusicologists, therapists, and special needs educators. Her research results indicated that Maqam Saba can evoke measurable emotional responses in participants with Arab backgrounds compared with participants with no Arab background, challenging the notion that music perception is universal. These findings pave the way for the development of music therapy approaches that are tailored to specific cultural Bendriss also visited the Orient Spirit Development Organization, the first specialized vocational training center in the Middle East dedicated to training individuals with disabilities and learning difficulties, which engages in music therapy, crafts, and income-generating activities to build their autonomy and on her work, Dr. Bendriss said: 'I'm incredibly proud that this clinical trial is now yielding its first results. It's the first study of its kind to bring neuroscientific evidence to what scholars like Al-Farabi and Ibn Sina described centuries ago — the therapeutic power of musical modes, or maqams, used in the earliest mental health hospitals, the Bimaristans. Just as Mozart's music has been studied neurologically, our work at WCM-Q examines for the first time the brain's response to 'Howa Sahih El Hawa Ghalab,' a classic interpreted by Umm Kulthum in Maqam Saba. The findings challenge the idea that sadness in music is universal, suggesting instead that music-based interventions must be culturally grounded. Sharing these results in Jordan — home to one of the region's oldest music therapy degree programs — was deeply meaningful. It reflects my aspiration to foster lasting regional collaborations that bridge science, heritage, and care, and ultimately serve children with special needs through more inclusive, culturally informed therapeutic practices.'These collaborations are closely linked to Dr. Bendriss's broader research interests in neurodevelopmental disorders and the sensory dimension of the gut-brain axis. They also build on the momentum of her continuing professional development course, 'Training in Music-Based Interventions,' the region's first accredited program of its kind. The course featured Ms. Rula Barghouthi, a music therapist from the Orient Spirit Development Organization, and equips healthcare professionals with tools to help individuals build self-esteem, express emotions, and address speech and motor deficits associated with conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The growing significance of WCM-Q's commitment to advancing neuromusicology is further affirmed by the official recognition of music therapists under Qatar's art therapy license.
