Colleges ought to be ‘final to shut, first to open’ Multilateral businesses in Jordan name for continued prioritization of schooling throughout COVID-19 – Jordan
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**AMMAN, January 19, 2022 **— Schools should be the last sector to close and the first to open to prevent a learning loss that could affect children in years to come, UN leaders have urged organizations and the World Bank in Jordan today.
All agencies and the World Bank commended the Jordanian government’s efforts to date to prioritize school openings, with significant investments so far to ensure that the necessary measures for safe learning are in place and that both children and teachers have the necessary skills and Tools they need to catch up effectively.
The heads of three UN agencies in Jordan – UNESCO, UNICEF and WHO – and the World Bank called on the Jordanian government not to reverse years of progress in education by continuing to apply the safe reopening framework aimed at maintain personal learning Schools available to the majority of students. The longer the COVID-19 measures keep classrooms closed in Jordan, the greater the impact on children and young people.
*“Time is of the essence in helping children who have already lost almost two years of personal learning. The focus must be on getting the most vulnerable children, who are facing a shadow pandemic of child labour, early marriage and mental health problems and most at risk of dropping out, back into school,” said * Tanja Chapuisat, Representative, UNICEF Jordan.
“*The COVID-19 pandemic has already placed restrictions and immense pressure on children everywhere. Going back to school should be an exciting time for them and contributes to their physical and mental development. Here they can learn, grow and interact with others. School closures in Jordan should not be viewed as an option as at the start of the pandemic as the country has been a regional leader in effectively preparing schools for reopening with high vaccination coverage, guidance and training for teachers; materials for sanitation and hygiene; as well as physical distancing and rotation*,” said dr Jamela Al-Raiby, WHO representative in Jordan.
“*First indications from the recent mid-term review of Jordan’s Education Strategic Plan (ESP) are already pointing to alarming losses in learning and equity due to the pandemic. Greater prioritization of reopening schools and keeping them open, and incorporating remedial education approaches into public schools will be critical, especially for children from low-income households, children with special needs and refugee children,” he said Min Jeong Kim, Representative, UNESCO Jordan.
“*Disruptions to classroom time can have a serious impact on a child’s future ability to learn. **Learning losses can far exceed actual school closure time. **The pandemic threatens to erase years of hard-earned gains in Jordan’s education sector, and further closures could undo important progress in rehabilitation efforts and lead to additional learning losses,*” he said Holly Benner, resident Representative in Jordan, the World Bank.
The cost of closing schools is significant as children who fall behind in their education are more likely to drop out, affecting Jordan’s human capital outcomes and young people’s ability to access longer-term employment and economic opportunities. Simulations suggest that students in Jordan lost up to 0.9 school years, adjusted for quality. It is estimated that future student earnings in Jordan will fall by up to 8 percent.
School closures disproportionately affect younger children, people with limited access to digital media, children with disabilities, girls, refugees and children living in poverty. School is crucial for children beyond learning – it helps them to socialize and develop, and for some children school is the only place they feel safe.
The multilateral agencies reiterated their continued support to the Department of Education to get all children back to sophomore learning as soon as possible.
media contacts
Juliet Toma
Regional Head of Advocacy and Communications
UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office
Tel: 00962798674628
Email: jtouma@unicef.org
