Johannesburg - Queen Rania of Jordan shared a school bench with children in South Africa's famous Soweto township this week during a visit to promote education.

The 38-year-old queen visited Phefeni Secondary School in her capacity as ambassador for the United Nations children's agency UNICEF, South Africa's The Star newspaper reported Friday.

UNICEF is funding a gender equality programme in South African schools, aimed at improving educational opportunities for girls.

Dhabi, Nov 11th, 2008 - Queen Rania Abdullah of Jordan, said the features of Arab world changed so much over the last 8 years, and especially after the launching of the Arab Women Organisation in 2003. "We are more educated and more determined to achieve and progress in line with creating active Arab community with women and men on equal footing".

Thanking Sheikha Fatima for hosting the conference, First Lady of Jordan highlighted that Jordan became early aware about significance of education, as private sector was involved in promoting of education and creating healthy and secure environment for education.