Refugee Children’s Right to Education: Education of Syrian Refugee Children in Jordan – Reality and Prospects

Abstract

Background: Since the outbreak of political violence in Syria in 2011, vast numbers of Syrians have gone to the Jordanian border to escape one of the most devastating civil wars in recent times, and about one-third of the refugees fleeing their countries, i.e., about one million three hundred thousand Syrian refugees, have arrived. These refugees are distributed within the Zaatari, Azraq, Rakban, and Emirati-Jordanian camps. Some of them live outside the scope of these four camps, especially in the governorates of Irbid, Mafraq, Amman, and Zarqa. More than half of these refugees are children. Methods: The research uses the descriptive analysis method, which is based on the detailed description and in-depth analysis of the topic of the study through gathering detailed data related to the research problem, analysing legal texts and relevant information as well as their clear interpretation, concluding with proposing appropriate solutions and recommendations aimed at supporting the right of Syrian refugee children in Jordan to obtain their right to education. Results and Conclusions: The study concluded the importance of the efforts made by the Jordanian government, with the support of donors and humanitarian organisations, regarding assisting Syrian students in obtaining a quality education and its contribution to the steady increase in the percentage of children enrolled in education. On the other hand, the study confirmed the many obstacles and difficulties that impede the education of Syrian refugees in Jordan, such as child labour and early marriage, the lack of appropriate educational infrastructure in light of the scarcity of essential financial resources, the lack of international funding; the limited availability of school, the shortage of qualified human resources to deal with refugee children, and the lack of the necessary documentation to enrol in education. However, despite all the challenges and difficulties related to the education of Syrian refugees in Jordan, the opportunity remains to overcome the difficulties effectively, develop the educational reality, achieve an increase in the rates of absorption in the educational systems, and improve the quality of education provided to these students, which will contribute to the realisation of their dreams and aspirations and help them rebuild their society and host society alike.