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SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT: ARAB EPISCOPAL SCHOOL IN IRBID, JORDAN
Before 2003, blind and visually-impaired children in Irbid, Jordan, had no options for education except travelling an hour each way to Amman. That changed when Rev. Samir Esaid and Mrs. Sabah Zurikat recognized this gap and founded the Arab Episcopal School (AES).
Today, AES stands as a thriving K-12 educational institution where more than 275 sighted and visually-impaired students learn side by side. Beyond academics, AES emphasizes character development through a peace curriculum rooted in democracy, respect for human rights, volunteerism, and care for the environment.
The transformation is profound. Children who once faced educational barriers now read, write, and flourish in an encouraging environment alongside their peers. As the only school of its kind in Jordan, AES has become a model for inclusive education, offering hope to families throughout the region.
The Arab Episcopal School represents just one of twenty educational institutions owned and operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, collectively reaching thousands of children in the region. These include primary, secondary, and vocational schools as well as centers for children with disabilities, and fully integrated schools where students of all abilities learn together. Each promotes shared values of good citizenship, mutual respect, and peace, placing Diocesan schools at the forefront of forming the leaders and peacemakers of tomorrow.
At schools in the West Bank, Jerusalem, Jordan and beyond, families are doing everything they can to ensure their children have access to safe and quality education. With violence and instability continuing across the region, schools carry a heavy burden. Many operate with severely limited resources while still honoring their commitment to welcoming every child, including those whose families cannot afford tuition.
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