In his book "Our Last Best Chance: The Pursuit of Peace in a Time of Peril," His Majesty King Abdullah II shared his dream of providing quality education to gifted Jordanians, ensuring fairness in education and granting talented children access to equal opportunities.

Driven by this vision, the King initiated the establishment of specialised schools to nurture gifted students and foster their talents.

The journey of the King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence began with the opening of the first school in Zarqa during the 2001/2002 academic year. These institutions were dedicated to providing education tailored to the needs of gifted students. Over time, the network of King Abdullah II Schools for Excellence expanded to cover all governorates, totalling 13 schools.

Admission to these schools is based on specific criteria. The top 5 per cent of students with the highest grades in the sixth grade are nominated and undergo rigorous testing administered by the Ministry of Education. Those who achieve the highest scores within the capacity of each school are granted admission, paving the way for their academic and intellectual growth.

His Majesty also envisioned the establishment of a boarding school for gifted students that mirrored the diversity and innovation of institutions like Deerfield Academy in the United States, where the King himself had received his education. Recognising the absence of a similar institution in Jordan or the wider Middle East, King's Academy was founded in Madaba. In 2008, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II became one of its students, joining his Jordanian peers. Since its inception in 2007, King's Academy has awarded numerous scholarships annually to talented students from various backgrounds.

This investment in education has yielded remarkable results, with successive generations of talented individuals contributing to the country's progress with their distinction, innovation, and creativity. Students from the King Abdullah II School of Excellence in Irbid Governorate achieved a historic feat by winning first place in the Robotics Championship held in Texas in 2017, the largest global robotics competition. This Jordanian team was the first in the world to secure four awards in the competition, including the prestigious World Robot Champion Award, the World Champion Final Stage Award, the Tabletop Award (2nd place) and the Best Trainer in the World Award. Similarly, students from the King Abdullah II School of Excellence in Zarqa have garnered numerous awards at the Arab level, excelling in competitions such as the S1 Robot Competition, the 4x4 Competition and the Future Software Competition, as well as securing first place in the Electronic Games Challenge.

These talented Jordanians are at the forefront of the entrepreneurship sector, leading hundreds of start-ups that quickly gain traction and attract the attention of major investors worldwide. They also occupy leadership positions in scientific institutions and innovation laboratories both in Jordan and across the globe.