Jordan launches Back-to-School campaign for Syrian children

Petra News Agency, 06 Aug 2014

Al-Mafraq, Aug. 6 (Petra) - Jordan's Ministry of Education, with support from UNICEF, launched a new back-to-school campaign late on Tuesday, targeting all Syrian children registered in the Kingdom, between the ages of 6 and 18. Robert Jenkins, UNICEF representative in Jordan, thanked the Ministry of Education for giving all children the necessary access to pursue their education, stressing the importance of providing education opportunities to Syrian refugee children: "Schools provide a safe haven for children, offer them a sense of normalcy and help give them hope for the future. It is crucial to ensure that Syrian girls and boys who have left their home country do not lose out on their education so that they can continue to play an active role in society in the future." The nationwide campaign, which is funded by the European Union, involves sending peer educators and volunteers door-to-door in various locations to engage directly with parents and children. Communicating through flyers, posters and a variety of other channels, the campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of education and the relevant school registration procedures. The back-to-school campaign, which is being implemented by Save the Children Jordan and will be rolled out throughout the months of August and September, aims to provide 300,000 students, parents and community members with information on education as well as assistance with referral services across Jordan, including in Syrian refugee camps. The campaign also offers learning support by providing more than 150,000 Syrian students with school bags and stationary. CEO of Save the Children Jordan Manal Wazani noted that "In addition to being a basic human right, education represents the potential for a better future. Advocate and campaign for better practices and policies to serve children's rights and to make sure that children’s voices are heard. This can only be done through proper education." Since the launch of the back-to-school campaign in 2013, more than 120,000 Syrian children (over 100,000 in host communities and 20,000 in camps) have registered in schools in the Kingdom. The campaign this year will cover all governorates and camps in Jordan.