A new start for conflict-affected children
Young Syrian children who have settled in Azraq refugee camp are recovering from distressing experiences and starting a new life thanks to a Plan Internation…
We advocate for girls and boys (0-17) from vulnerable and excluded groups to have equal access to inclusive and quality education and early childhood care and development so they receive the necessary support and services they need to survive, grow up healthy and develop to their full potential, free from discriminatory gender norms and harmful attitudes.
Barriers to education
There are many barriers that prevent children in Jordan’s host communities from accessing a quality education from an early age:
- Many families of school aged Jordanian and Syrian children simply cannot afford the costs of school fees, supplies, and transportation.
- Public schools in Jordan face many challenges when it comes to providing a quality education including overcrowded classrooms, bullying and the need for more effective teacher training.
- Abuse of girls at school has also been widely reported, with issues ranging from verbal and sexual harassment to corporal punishment.
- Syrian refugee children also often struggle to meet government requirements to enroll in school due to a lack of valid documentation.
As a result, vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian children, especially girls, are at greater risk of dropping out of school. Those who are not prepared for primary education may never attend school, and older children may instead turn to child labour and early marriage to meet their families’ short-term needs.
There is also a lack of flexible, informal sources of education, which restricts learning opportunities for children who are out of school. Plan International Jordan aims to fill these gaps in children’s education by supporting access to formal, non-formal, and informal education.
Access to quality education
Plan International Jordan promotes inclusive education, ensuring all marginalised children have the support they need to learn and develop.
We collaborate with local partners to deliver flexible and innovative informal education for the most vulnerable children, focusing on strengthening literacy and numeracy skills, and providing psychosocial support and life skills. Our programming gives at-risk children, including homebound girls, those engaged in child labour and children with disabilities greater opportunities to enroll in non-formal and formal education.
Early childhood care and development
Plan International Jordan provides early childhood care and development services for vulnerable children under 5 in both Jordan’s host communities and Azraq refugee camp. By creating safe, child-friendly spaces for young Jordanian and Syrian refugee children to develop, we increase the chances that they will enroll in primary education.
We also work with parents and caregivers so they are able to play a key role in the development, learning and safety of their children. When children are in early learning classes, it allows their parents to either learn themselves or work so they can provide a better future for their families.
In 2020, we launched First Steps’ Big Step, a 3-year project that supports parents and primary caregivers to be more responsive and proactive in meeting their children’s needs in a safe, enabling environment.
The project addresses gaps in access, participation and quality of early childhood services and education in several areas in Jordan.
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