EU grants 55m euros for education of Syrian refugees

AMMAN — The EU on Monday signed two financing agreements with the government under which grants worth 55 million euros and 5.5 million euros will be provided to Jordan.

EU Ambassador to Jordan Joanna Wronecka and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury signed the agreements, according to statements from the EU and the ministry sent to The Jordan Times.

The 55-million euro grant is to help Jordan deal with the influx of Syrian refugees in the education sector, while the 5.5-million euro grant is to enhance the Kingdom's participation in the EU's ERASMUS + programme for higher education, the statement said.

The support will help the Ministry of Education extend education services to 140,000 Syrian students enrolled in public schools, both in host communities and in the refugee camps.

Wronecka reiterated the EU's commitment towards Jordan: "The Syrian refugee crisis poses great challenges to the region and in particular to Jordan, and in this time Europe stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the Kingdom". 

"Access to education is a basic and universal human right and the EU together with Jordan are ensuring that this right is provided to the Syrian children. Furthermore, Jordanian youth and students will have the opportunity to improve their skills in partnership with top class European universities," she added, according to the EU statement.

Fakhoury expressed the government's and Jordanians' appreciation to the EU for its continuous commitment to supporting the Kingdom and providing extra grants as a contribution to address the repercussions of the Syrian crisis, which resulted in the huge influx of Syrians into Jordan.

The ongoing crisis in Syria and the movement of refugees into Jordan has had an impact on the education sector, the Planning Ministry statement said, adding that the EU support will cover expenses related to the appointment of additional teachers and printing textbooks that are being distributed to the 140,000 Syrian students.

It will also help the Ministry of Education cover the cost of school utilities and provide quality education to Syrian refugees, according to the statement.

The grant to the higher education sector, through the
ERASMUS+ programme will enhance the capacities of local institutions in terms of management, governance and international co-operation, the statement said. 

It will increase intercultural dialogue and understanding between participants from Jordan and EU member states as well as the region. The support will also facilitate the travel of some 350-400 students from the local higher education institutions involved in the programme to Europe.

The support for the education of Syrian children is also complemented through the ongoing activities that are implemented by UNICEF and UNESCO to provide nonformal and informal education to children who cannot be enrolled in public schools.

“This is part of a much wider support programme by the EU to Jordan to deal with the Syrian crisis which covers, amongst others, humanitarian aid, job creation, water management, support to host communities,” the EU statement said.

Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, in addition to its bilateral programme, the EU has mobilised around 350-million euros to support Jordan in dealing with the humanitarian and developmental needs of both Syrian refugees and host communities.