Schools to reopen on September 1, 'pandemic situation determines educational pathway'

AMMAN — The 2020/2021 academic year will start on August 25 for teachers and on September 1 for students, the Ministry of Education announced on Wednesday.

Education Minister Tayseer Nueimi said that the education process for the 2020/2021 scholastic year will be "as usual but its nature will be determined according to the pandemic situation", emphasising that the ministry has “alternative plans” to deal with developments.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Nueimi said that the ministry has made its decision based on a number of factors, including the education and health requirements as well as course timetable and syllabus, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

He also highlighted the new “safe school guidance and protocol”, jointly prepared by the Health Ministry, to ensure “a safe and sound” reopening of schools, Petra reported.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying suspension of classes, the Ministry of Education has switched to online education.

Nueimi said on Wednesday that the ministry will launch a TV education programme on the national television on August 9 targeting students from the first to 11th grades.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, schools in Jordan had faced a one-month suspension at the beginning of the 2019/2020 academic year when teachers across the country began a month-long strike demanding pay rise.