In a signing ceremony which was held today, Wednesday at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Mr. Saleh Al-Kharabsheh, and UNICEF Acting Representative, Mr. Nasser Moeini,  signed the work plans of the Education programme benefiting Iraqi and Jordanian vulnerable children for the amount of JD 8.72 million.  The Education programme also includes a psychosocial component.

The work plans will be implemented in 2010 under the guidance of Ministries of Planning and International Cooperation, Education, and Social Development. Some of the programmes will be implemented through local and international non-governmental organizations.  The objective of the plan is to contribute to the overall goal of the government and partners with respect to support to the Iraqi guests community in Jordan.

The Education Programme aims to sustain the quality and access of vulnerable children (including children with disabilities) in formal, non-formal, informal, remedial and special education.  In addition, the programme will Expand ICT project to include another 20 public schools.

Achievements in 2009 were, supporting the ministry of education through the provision of 20,000 school kits which were delivered to vulnerable children nationwide.  In addition, the programme supported the renting of 72 schools and double shifted 20 schools to improved quality of primary education for children in areas of high Iraqi concentration.  Moreover, 14 multi-purpose rooms were established with the latest computer equipment and peripherals.

The Psychosocial Project aims to improve psychosocial wellbeing of vulnerable Iraqi and Jordanian children and families in Jordan. Under the “Psychosocial Care and Protection of Children in Crises” project, the project will support the training of 1,500 teachers in public schools in related methodologies.

Last year approximately 6,000 school principals and deputy principals have been provided with orientation sessions to enhance their capacity in dealing with vulnerable children in need of support. At the same time, UNICEF has supported International non-government organization (NGO) partners on building the capacity of local counterparts, non-government organizations (NGOs) and community based organizations (CBOs) in psychosocial care.

This financial support will continue in 2010 thanks to the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (BPRM) of the U.S. government for its generous support to Iraqi guest children in Jordan.

Of the US$12.3 million allocated to the programme, US$6.4 is funded and US$5.9 will be raised during 2010.