HRH Prince Hassan, president of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST), on Thursday said education plays a pivotal role in forming societies and called for focusing on enriching human knowledge.

Speaking at a ceremony to honour winners of the 2011 El Hassan Bin Talal Award for Scientific Excellence, he underlined the need to move from building education to fostering citizenship in accordance with a comprehensive national vision, stressing the importance of enhancing the knowledge-based economy.

He said focusing on humans and their development starts with respecting their rights and dignity, noting that Arabs and Muslims are not human “surplus” and that there is a need for a new institutional renaissance in light of the changes taking place in the region, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

This year’s award targeted general education institutions, according to HCST Secretary General Khaled Shraideh, who noted that 19 applicants representing 16 institutions across the Kingdom participated in the awards.

The first prize of JD7,000 went to the Jubilee School, while the Baptist School of Amman received second prize of JD5,000.

Meanwhile, the Baccalaureate and the National Orthodox schools shared third prize, valued at JD3,000.

Shraideh said that plans are in place to expand the award to include training and educational institutions in the Arab world.

Their Royal Highnesses Princess Sarvath, president of the award committee, Prince Raad and Princess Sumaya, president of El Hassan Science City, attended the ceremony along with several ambassadors, ministers and public figures.

The award, created in 1995 to encourage academic, scientific and technological activities, is granted annually to winners in one of three categories: institutions of general education, higher education and vocational and technical education.

HRH Prince Hassan, president of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST), on Thursday said education plays a pivotal role in forming societies and called for focusing on enriching human knowledge.

Speaking at a ceremony to honour winners of the 2011 El Hassan Bin Talal Award for Scientific Excellence, he underlined the need to move from building education to fostering citizenship in accordance with a comprehensive national vision, stressing the importance of enhancing the knowledge-based economy.

He said focusing on humans and their development starts with respecting their rights and dignity, noting that Arabs and Muslims are not human “surplus” and that there is a need for a new institutional renaissance in light of the changes taking place in the region, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

This year’s award targeted general education institutions, according to HCST Secretary General Khaled Shraideh, who noted that 19 applicants representing 16 institutions across the Kingdom participated in the awards.

The first prize of JD7,000 went to the Jubilee School, while the Baptist School of Amman received second prize of JD5,000.

Meanwhile, the Baccalaureate and the National Orthodox schools shared third prize, valued at JD3,000.

Shraideh said that plans are in place to expand the award to include training and educational institutions in the Arab world.

Their Royal Highnesses Princess Sarvath, president of the award committee, Prince Raad and Princess Sumaya, president of El Hassan Science City, attended the ceremony along with several ambassadors, ministers and public figures.

The award, created in 1995 to encourage academic, scientific and technological activities, is granted annually to winners in one of three categories: institutions of general education, higher education and vocational and technical education.