Opinion writers in Jordanian newspapers today focused on a range of issues, including higher education, the performance of Parliament, the economy, and soaring red meat prices. Their commentaries combined criticism with calls for legislative, administrative, and economic reforms.

Columnist Maher Abu Tair argued that the continued absence of boards of trustees at Jordan's public and private universities, following the expiration of their legal mandates, has created a problem that goes beyond administrative delays. He warned that the vacuum could raise legal questions over the legitimacy of decisions issued by universities during this period.

Abu Tair said MP Hussein Al Amoush deserves credit for bringing the issue to public attention, stressing that the solution is not simply to appoint new boards. Instead, he called for a comprehensive review of Jordan's higher education sector, including universities' financial conditions, debt burdens, and the ability of academic programs to keep pace with labour market demands and the rapid transformation of education.

He also argued that members of university boards should be selected according to clear and transparent criteria, free from political or personal considerations, because these bodies play a decisive role in shaping the future of higher education. He added that Parliament's real responsibility lies in pursuing critical national issues until solutions are reached, rather than merely raising them in public debate.

On parliamentary affairs, constitutional law professor Laith Naserawin examined what he described as a recurring contradiction in the House of Representatives, where MPs often deliver strongly worded criticism of draft legislation during debates, only to vote in favour of referring those same bills to parliamentary committees.

Naserawin maintained that an MP's vote, rather than speeches delivered under the parliamentary dome, represents the true constitutional expression of their position. He warned that the gap between rhetoric and voting behaviour undermines public confidence in the legislative institution and creates the impression that some parliamentary statements are aimed more at media attention than genuine political positions.

He called for greater transparency by publishing voting records in a clear and accessible manner, enabling citizens and the media to compare lawmakers' public statements with their actual votes. In his view, parliamentary democracy should ultimately be judged by the consistency between an MP's declared position and their final vote.

On the economic front, former Finance Minister Mohammad Abu Hammour highlighted Jordan's improvement in the 2026 Environmental Performance Index, arguing that the achievement carries significant economic implications beyond environmental recognition.

He wrote that environmental performance has become a key factor in promoting economic growth, attracting investment, and improving quality of life. Abu Hammour identified water management as Jordan's greatest challenge, noting that the country's extremely low per capita share of renewable water resources directly affects production costs and food security.

He also pointed to the expansion of renewable energy projects as an opportunity to reduce dependence on imported energy and lower production costs. In addition, he urged policymakers to make better use of the waste management sector, describing it as a potential source of new jobs and a driver of the circular economy. Environmental protection, he argued, should no longer be viewed as an economic burden, but as an investment in sustainable development and resilience against climate change.

Meanwhile, columnist Ibrahim Abdul Majid Al Qaisi questioned why red meat prices remain persistently high despite a favourable rainy season and improved natural grazing conditions.

He noted that some observers have linked demand to the growing popularity of the "Al Tayyibat" diet programme. However, he argued that stable prices do not indicate a significant increase in demand, raising questions about the real factors keeping prices elevated for more than a year.

Al Qaisi concluded that consumers deserve a clear explanation from both the government and the livestock sector, particularly since imported meat prices have also remained high. Without transparent answers, he warned, the issue will continue to fuel public concern and economic debate.