Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Mulki has approved a recommendation to allow Syrian refugees who do not possess the required documents to enroll in government schools, the Jordan Times reported Sunday (September 24th).
To be able to join formal education in the kingdom, Syrians have to present a special ID card issued by the Interior Ministry indicating their status as refugees.
The decision is consistent with the government’s policy not to leave any children without education, Education Minister Omar Razzaz said.
"In line with our value system in Jordan, we do not accept that any child be left out without education," government spokesman Mohammad Momani said.
"Education is among a string of services provided to Syrian refugees from the moment they are received on [the] border," he added.
Asked if the new numbers would add to the problem of crowding at schools, he said the newcomers would join afternoon sessions in double-shift schools.
In addition to expanding schools in Syrian refugee camps, the Ministry of Education has opened 200 schools operating double shifts to offer formal education to refugee children, according to UNICEF.
Catch-up education programmes also are being rolled out to reach children who have missed more than three years of schooling, the agency said in a report.
