More than 2 million students return to school after months-long virus closure

AMMAN — Around 2.145 million students across the Kingdom on Tuesday returned to school at the start of the 2020/2021 academic year after six months of remote education imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 3,940 public schools nationwide opened their doors for students after ensuring their readiness at the educational and health levels, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Among the public schools were 2,235 that will receive students in shifts to avoid overcrowding in classrooms, while at least 36 schools will be working at a two-shift system to accommodate the increasing number of students.

About 90,000 teachers resumed their duties for the new academic year last week to prepare schools to receive students, prepare class schedules and get trained on health protocols to provide "a proper and encouraging environment for students", Petra reported.

Meanwhile, some 42,000 students moved from private schools to public schools, and the number is expected to increase by the end of the transfer period that will last until September 17.

Education Minister Tayseer Nuaimi, who joined students in the morning assembly at the Zahran Secondary School for Boys, expressed hope in parents' role in raising awareness of their children in light of these "exceptional circumstances".

The minister highlighted some challenges in schools related to “confusion” in the initial stage of the academic year, assuring students that the situation will be stable after a few days.

Nuaimi also stressed that the ministry is keen on the health of students and teachers alike.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry, in coordination with the Interior Ministry, is taking the tally of students in isolated buildings and neighbourhoods to secure them with schoolbooks in their places of residence.

The procedure is part of the ministry's keenness to ensure students' rights to education in light of the exceptional circumstances imposed by the epidemiological developments in the Kingdom, according to a ministry statement.