Balqa, May 18 (Petra) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), in cooperation with the Balqa Tourism Directorate and the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, on Monday organized a cultural and educational event in the city of Salt titled "The Traditional Manqalah Game: An Educational and Cultural Experience."

The event was held in celebration of UNESCO Arts Education Week. It drew wide participation from local community students and teachers, including sixth and seventh-grade students from the Bayoudha Al-Sharqiya Secondary Mixed School a member of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) and the Holy Land School for the Deaf. Local practitioners of the traditional game and cultural heritage enthusiasts also attended.

Participating students, including those with hearing disabilities, were introduced to the history and rules of the Manqalah game. They took part in interactive playing and training sessions supervised by local practitioners, with Arabic sign language interpreters present to ensure an inclusive and effective experience for all attendees. The initiative aimed to connect cultural heritage with modern learning methodologies, enhancing strategic thinking, arithmetic, and teamwork skills, while highlighting the integration of culture and arts in education as tools for developing creativity, critical thinking, and social cohesion.

UNESCO Representative to Jordan, Noha Bawazir, emphasized the importance of cultural practices and intangible cultural heritage in supporting informal education and ensuring cultural continuity across generations. She noted that such activities strengthen cultural identity and deepen the connection of youth to their local heritage.

Director of the Balqa Tourism Directorate, Mahmoud Arabiat, welcomed the UNESCO representative and attendees to the event, which was hosted at the Salt Historic Museum. He stated that the activity is part of ongoing efforts by the directorate and its partners to raise community awareness regarding intangible cultural heritage and revive traditional folk games as an authentic component of Jordanian cultural identity.

Arabiat added that utilizing heritage elements supports the educational process, sharpens students' cognitive and social abilities, and fosters national belonging.

The city of Salt is recognized as one of the prominent Jordanian cities that has preserved the practice of the Manqalah game as part of its living cultural heritage, where it continues to be played in public squares. Notably, Salt was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.

The event was co-organized by several national partners, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, the Jordanian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, the Salt Municipality, and the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The ceremony was attended by the Director of the Salt Development Corporation, Khaldon Khreisat, along with representatives from local cultural forums, religious endowments, and educational stakeholders.

//Petra// AF

18/05/2026 21:59:36