UNICEF hails Jordan’s decision to open school doors to Iraqi refugee children

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) today hailed the decision by the Government of Jordan to open the country’s public schools to the tens of thousands of Iraqi children who have fled there.

When Jordanian public schools start classes on 19 August, all children will, for the first time, be able to attend classes, regardless of whether they possess a residency permit or not, UNICEF said in a statement, noting that previously, formal education was available only to Iraqis holding residency permits.

Welcoming the move, the agency pointed out that Iraqi youngsters have faced numerous obstacles since fleeing their homeland. “Many have lost a parent, a teacher, their friends and their place in communities. A large proportion of Iraqi children living in Jordan had not attended school for years,” it noted.

For its part, UNICEF has been supporting education of Iraqi children in Iraq and through the region.

In July, UNICEF and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNICEF) launched a $129 million joint appeal to support host Governments such as Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Lebanon in providing schooling for 155,000 Iraqi children for the 2007-2008 academic year, including 50,000 in Jordan.

“These funds are needed urgently to allow children to begin the school year in a little over a week, and also to ensure that they can continue their education into 2008,” UNICEF said today.