Hind Al-Abdullah

Jordanian educator who founded the first girls' schools in the Middle East and championed women's rights in the 1950s

Hind Al-Abdullah (1915–1995) was a visionary Jordanian educator who transformed women's access to education in the Middle East. Born in Amman when Jordan was still part of the Ottoman Empire, she became the first Jordanian woman to earn a university degree (BA in Education from the American University of Beirut, 1938). Against fierce opposition, she established Amman's first girls' school in 1946, later expanding to a network of 12 schools across Jordan.

Al-Abdullah's innovative teaching methods emphasized critical thinking and practical skills, preparing girls for roles beyond traditional domestic spheres. She co-founded the Jordanian Women's Union in 1951 to advocate for legal rights, leading campaigns for women's suffrage and property rights. Her 1955 report Women's Education in the Arab World became a foundational text for regional policymakers.

Despite government resistance, she secured funding from international organizations to build teacher training colleges. Her memoir My Life as an Educator (1987) reveals her struggles against cultural norms, including death threats from conservative groups. Today, the Jordanian Ministry of Education honors her legacy with annual awards, and her schools remain models for gender equality initiatives. Explore her story further via the Wikipedia page or the Jordanian Women's Society.