Education centre at Azraq camp enables refugees to catch up on missed classes

AZRAQ REFUGEE CAMP — Although she taught English at school in Syria for 22 years, Jamalat Hariri finds teaching in Jordan’s Azraq camp a more daunting task.

The 44-year-old said she feels she has a great responsibility towards the Syrian children residing in the camp, some 100km east of Amman and 20km west of the town of Azraq in Zarqa Governorate.

“I feel that I have the responsibility to raise a generation that will be able to rebuild Syria,” she told The Jordan Times during a break between classes.  

Hariri is among 34 female and male teachers and case managers who decided to volunteer at the newly established remedial education centre in the second largest Syrian refugee camp in Jordan, with over 21,000 refugees, according to UNICEF. 

Inaugurated by US Ambassador to Jordan Alice G. Wells on Wednesday, the centre is managed by UNICEF’s partner Relief International and aims at helping over 1,300 girls and boys having difficulties performing in certain subjects, in addition to children from newly arrived families who enrolled late to the formal school, according to a UNICEF statement.

The centre, constructed by the US government, will also support extra classes for students in the camp preparing for the General Secondary Education Certificate Examination.

Rawan Eid, a case coordinator at Relief International, said around 600 students between the ages of six and 18 are registered with their education programme.

“This centre gives classes that boost students’ knowledge to make up for the academic years they missed,” she told The Jordan Times outside one of the centre’s classrooms.

Eid noted that each class has a teacher and a case manager, adding that children also engage in outdoor activities such as sports, painting and handicrafts.  

“All teachers are Syrians who volunteer to help. They live inside the camp and and we conducted interviews before we accepted them,” she said.

UNICEF Representative Robert Jenkins said the centre is vital, noting that children working their way back into the formal school system need “this extra support in order to bridge into the regular school system which is next door”.

Jenkins told The Jordan Times at the inauguration ceremony that UNICEF aspires to reach every single child. “With the commitment of the government of Jordan, with partners we are able to achieve that goal.” 

“Such projects are critical for the development of the future of Syria, [so] that these children go back educated and able to contribute to the rebuilding of their country.” 

In her speech during the opening ceremony, Wells said Wednesday was a great day to champion the necessity of education for all students and to recognise the assistance of people of Syria being made by the government, Jordanians, the UN and NGOs.

Students at the centre, she added, will study Arabic, maths, science, English and other subjects.

“This centre is a small down payment on the commitment that we have that no generation of schoolchildren should even be left behind. Investing in this centre is an investment in the future leadership of Syria,” Wells added,  

Hariri, two of whose daughters also volunteer to teach at the centre, said although there are many challenges such as the heat and the desert environment of the camp, children are eager to learn and conquer all.

Bayan Abdul Naser, 13, said she wants to learn because she wants to rebuild her country when she goes back home. 

“I hope that I will have a bright future and I want to become a doctor,” she added. 

Her classmate Mariam, 12, said she was happy to attend the centre’s classes, adding that her favourite subjects are Arabic and English. 

Hariri said education is an important element in the lives of every Syrian child. 

“Education is as important as security and I want to thank everyone for making education projects happen here.”