New classrooms inaugurated at Irbid school serving Syrians, Jordanians

AMMAN (JT) — The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) recently handed over new classrooms at Al Taybeh Primary School for Girls to the representatives of the Ministry of Education, during an official ceremony.

The extension increases the capacity of the school by around 30 per cent, allowing it to cater to an additional 360 students, both Jordanians and Syrian refugees, the NRC said in a statement. “With more than 80 per cent of Syrian refugees living outside of formal refugee camps, NRC decided to increase its services that also benefit Jordanian host communities who continue to generously host Syrian refugees,” Petr Kostohryz, NRC Jordan country director said during the ceremony.

“School-aged children comprise 35 per cent of all Syrian refugees in Jordan, and about half of those are waiting for a chance to pursue their education,” the statement quoted Irbid Education Director Ali Dweiri as saying at the ceremony. Heidi Johansen, from the Norwegian embassy, said more than half of Norway’s funding in Jordan focuses on education “where we see the greatest needs”.