This Blog is written by Aalaa Halaka
As part of the opening policy panel of the ERF conference on The Impacts of the Syrian Refugees Influx on the Jordanian Economy, H.E. Dr. Omar Razzaz -Jordanian Minister of Education- addresses the issue in relation to the Jordanian education sector and how the government has been responding to the refugee crisis. H.E. Dr. Razzaz has held key positions in development as well as the private sector, before his appointment as Minister of Education in 2017.
H.E. emphasizes the importance of the data collected through the Jordan Labor Market Panel Survey 2016, which has provided critical empirical evidence of the economic impacts of the Syrian Refugee crisis on several sectors of the Jordanian economy, such as infrastructure, housing and education. The data provides clear evidence of the changes reflected in the Jordanian education sector’s infrastructure and schooling system due to the increasing pressure on educational institutions in the form of double school shifts. Despite the burden of school overpopulation, H.E. Dr. Razzaz affirms that this did not cause significant dropouts among Jordanian students.
The challenge, he explains, lies in ensuring that all Syrian children in schooling age continue to have equitable access to education. Specifically, the government is keen on targeting the portion of the population -about a third- that relies on informal education methods -such as home schooling, rather than enrolling in schools. H.E. stresses that the government has been spending significant efforts in addressing the challenges facing the education sector, and that it supports the role of evidence-based research that focuses on policy implications and recommendations.
The Policy Conference on Employment, Education and Housing in Jordan: The Impacts Of The Syrian Refugee Influx is held in Amman, Jordan, on 13 May 2018. This event aims to examine the impact of the Syrian refugee influx on various aspects of life for Jordanians, including their labor market outcomes, their access to education services and housing, and their demographic behavior in terms of marriage and fertility. Visit the conference website to find out more about the events and access policy briefs, working papers, videos and blogs.
