Parents share back-to-school tips

AMMAN — The different school experience students will have after returning to their classrooms amid a pandemic has prompted many parents to share their back-to-school tips.

The Jordan Times spoke with parents whose children participated in the Education Ministry’s Academic Loss Compensation Programme.

The programme aims to compensate for academic losses in the Arabic, English, math and science subjects from the first to 11th grades.

“It is important to remind our children to wear their face masks, practise physical distancing and wash and disinfect their hands regularly,” said Abeer Baha’a, a mother of four.

“Many mothers have changed their kids’ schools because they are now focused on schools with stricter COVID-19 protocols,” Baha’a said.

Bisan Shaker, a mother of two, said that mothers are noting whether or not the school has screening stations to check students’ temperatures and hand sanitiser dispensers.

“It is crucial that the teaching and administrative staff disseminate information about COVID-19, as well as refine their approaches, in order to protect our kids,” she said.

“As parents we play a big role in ensuring a safe back-to-school for our children,” said Zein, a mother who preferred to go by her first name. She said that after each school day she will check her daughter’s temperature. 

Sultan Mustafa, a father of two, said that all layers of protection against the virus are needed. 

He noted that he checked whether the hallways and stairs at his children’s school were marked to help students to practise physical distancing.

“Schools are where children get their education, communicate and build friendships, as well as make beautiful memories, therefore we need to make sure to have them back safely,” he said.