In November, we looked at the broad scope of displaced children and youth around the globe and how their educational needs are (or are not) being met. This month we will focus on the situation in Jordan.
While Jordan is host to displaced persons from nearly 50 countries (see chart at the end of the blog), the two largest refugee/asylum seeking populations are from Iraq and Syria. Jordan has faced multiple waves of migration beginning with Palestinians in 1948 and 1967. In the past two decades the influx has been from neighboring countries and Africa.
To better understand the experiences of these populations and that of the Palestinians in Jordan, I refer you first to a 2012 report by Rochelle Davis, Associate Professor at Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and Director, Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. The report, Urban Refugees in Amman, Jordan, provides an in-depth understanding of the history and dynamics of each group of migrants. It addresses housing, livelihood, education and social life. It also features Collateral Repair Project; cover photos were provided by CRP.
This April 2017 report, Displaced Minorities Part II: Experiences and needs of Somali, Sudanese and Yemeni refugees and other migrants in Jordan by Mixed Migration Platform, offers a look at the situations faced by the more than 10,000 displaced minorities. While their numbers are much smaller than the Iraqis and Syrians, their experiences are unique with consequences on their ability to earn income, find shelter and food, and educate their children. Read the first five pages to gain insight to their situation.
Today, Iraqis and Syrians make up the largest population of displaced persons in Jordan. Click the country name to view the 2017-year-end figures from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR):
There are an estimated 1.3 million Syrians living in Jordan;
400,000 of them are school-age children.
“Double Shift explores the impact of the Syrian conflict on public schooling in Jordan, both from a macro view as well as from a detailed perspective, focusing on one double-shift school, the Al-Arqam school in the industrial city Sahab, southeast of Amman. The interactive transmedia documentary gives an insight into the everyday live of Jordanian and Syrian students, their classrooms, their needs, and their dreams. Double Shift aims to raise awareness of Jordan’s hospitality and efforts concerning the enrolment of Syrian refugee children into public schooling by telling the stories of all students, Syrians and Jordanians alike, going to school together.” - www.double-shift.org/about
This is a brilliant documentary and I also recommend the “Making-Of” feature, which offers further insights and interviews.
A Look at Education Initiatives in Jordan
Promising Practices in Refugee Education offers case studies of impact projects, several based in Jordan. Here are three:
War Child UK - Time to be a Child - Play, Learning and Child-Centred Development for Children Affected by the Syrian Crisis
Relief International - Non-formal Education Program: An innovation to build and nurture youth-centred creativity, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership in refugee contexts
We Love Reading - Promoting Literacy and Education through Reading Aloud in Community Settings
“WHAT THE ARAB WORLD NEEDS TODAY IS AN EDUCATIONAL REVOLUTION”
- Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah
Founded in 2013, the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development (QRF) aims to be the premier resource on educational issues, in Jordan and around the Arab world, and to act as an incubator for new ideas and initiatives. Their initiatives address teacher development, Arabic language MOOCs, K-12 education, child development, and equity in education.
A Personal Look
https://stories.usaid.gov/raghads-refuge/#page-1
A beautiful film depicting both a visually and emotionally compelling story of friends.
https://stories.usaid.gov/jordans-principal-hero/#page-1
“I told her that I will register your daughter if you bring a chair for her -
even if it is a plastic chair!” Maha recalls.
Further Reading:
In December 2017, the World Bank approved $200 Million (US) to improve education for Jordanian and Syrian refugee students. “The project will benefit approximately 700,000 Jordanian and Syrian refugee children. It will also help train more than 30,000 teachers across the Kingdom.” - World Bank Press Release
UNICEF: Jordan
The overwhelming majority of refugees/asylum seekers live in urban setting in and around Amman in the north of the country.
