HRH Princess Basma on Wednesday attended a ceremony celebrating the graduation of the fourth batch of students enrolled in the English Access Microscholarship Programme (Access).

Funded by the US embassy in Amman, the programme is implemented by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), through the Princess Basma Centres for Development since 2015.

This year's batch saw the graduation of 80 students in the 13-15 age group from the Mafraq and Tafileh governorates. Over the past two years, they received a total of 400 training hours designed to upgrade their English language skills and proficiency.

The programme targets high-performing students from underprivileged areas in the Kingdom.

In a recorded video message broadcast during the virtual event, Princess Basma congratulated the graduates and said their participation in the programme reflected their commitment to learning and being part of this experience despite difficult circumstances.

She also said that the students have shown that they have the capacity to acquire additional skills and expertise to ultimately develop themselves, and be better prepared for the future.

Princess Basma also emphasised that the knowledge which the students gained reflected the programme's role in opening up new horizons for them to learn, boost their self-confidence and know more about other cultures.

Princess Basma thanked the teachers for their efforts and dedication to helping the students through online or in-person modes of education. She also thanked the US embassy in Amman for supporting the project.

Eran Williams, from the US embassy in Amman, congratulated the students on their progress learning English, adding that they look forward to continuing to contribute to the education of young Jordanians in partnership with JOHUD.

The programme aims to boost students' proficiency in the English language with the help of teachers who are selected according to specific criteria. In addition to the standard training hours, students are engaged in a range of extracurricular and skill-boosting cross-cultural activities, and community service initiatives.

The programme also includes various activities that contribute to enhancing the skills of students and teachers, and motivating them to work with team spirit, solve problems and learn about the cultures of others, by engaging in meaningful dialogues and discussions in the English language.