New Schools For Iraqi Kids
The Jordanian government has opened public schools for “forgotten” kids in Iraq. According to CNN, Iraqi families are changing the social fabric of Jordanian society.
About 10 percent of Jordan’s population is now made up of Iraqi refugees — the estimates range from 500,000 to 750,000 of them.
Education Week reports that despite the fact that administrators were expecting the number of students who would register for classes would reach 50, 000, only 24, 000 have reportedly registered.
The lower figure is attributed in part to illegal refugees. Education Week quotes Omar Al-Hmoud, deputy country director for Mercy Corps — an international nonprofit organization that provides aid to displaced Iraqis in Jordan — commenting on the low registration in schools.
Mr. Al-Hmoud, who is Jordanian, has already identified a few reasons why he believes some Iraqi children aren’t in school. Among them:
- Parents are afraid to step forward because they worry they may encounter problems if they make it known they don’t have legal residency in Jordan.
- Iraqi children are behind academically because they’ve missed so much school.
- Parents may feel their children won’t be comfortable going to school with Jordanian children.
- Families lack transportation.
- Families face serious economic problems.
It is reported that the deadline for registering new students has been extended with a hope to attract more students.
Photo: © lakerae
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