Going back to school this year was a breakthrough for Lama and her mom

After almost a year of school closure due to the coronavirus pandemic, during the first week of February children up to the third grade and students in their final year of  secondary school (Tawjihi-students) returned to school in Jordan.

“My daughter Lama is so happy she returned to school. During the lockdown she used to get bored at home since she wasn’t spending time with children her age. As she is a child with disabilities, exposure at school helps build her character and social skills”. Lama’s mother mentioned. On her first day to school Lama was very excited to go back to school.

According to the Ministry of Education (MoE) precaution guidelines during the times of COVID‑19, and to reduce the number of students in classes, the school schedule is split into two shifts; the first shift from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and the second from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Every student attends Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday for one week and switches to Monday and Wednesday for the week after. The guidelines also encourage students to wear protective gear, wash their hands regularly and focus on proper disposal of medical items with the supervision of the school principal and teachers.

Despite the shortened period of classes scheduled, Lama’s mother believes that her daughter will still benefit greatly from coming to school, not only for educational purposes but also to benefit from social interactions with children her age.

The Director of Education Management at the Ministry of Education, Sami Mahasis, said the attendance rate among public school students was 60 percent during the first weeks of school reopening.

Although, there are many parents who are worried about sending their children back to school due to the pandemic, to Lama’s mom it was crucial for her daughter to start school as a first grader this year so she doesn’t miss out on education in a real school setting. For Lama it makes a great difference to interact with her shadow teacher face-to-face, she feels more involved in the lesson she’s learning.  According to her shadow teacher Ms. Duaa, Lama is a very clever girl, who learns quickly and is acquiring alphabetical skills, learning the colors and numbers at a fast pace considering her disability.

Ms. Butheina Hudeib, School Principal of Al Yarmouk Elementary Mixed School mentions,: “when I first met Lama and her mom through Mercy Corps staff, I was extremely worried about accepting Lama and other children with disabilities at school. This is because boys' behaviors at a mixed school can be violent; bullying other boys and girls in the school environment, and things will be even harder for children with disabilities.” Ms. Butheina added, : “Mercy Corps team members succeeded to convince me of the importance of Inclusive Education for this category of children and highly motivated me to take this bold step in admitting children with disabilities at this school.”

For Lama’s teachers and the school principal, Lama takes studying at school very seriously and is very dedicated to her education journey, which inspires them to see their flourishing efforts.

Every night Lama asks her mom to pray for her that she will be able to go to university after school like her siblings. Her mother believes that Lama will have a great profession when she grows up, “as a teacher or a media presenter,”, her mother says.

With the support from the Mercy Corps Inclusive Education Program, children with disabilities like Lama are gaining confidence in themselves and their abilities. When they are given the chance to participate in class this makes them feel that they are not different or less capable than other children their age.  

Mercy Corps has been leading inclusive education programming for children with disabilities (CWDs) since 2008. Our holistic approach provides Jordanian and Syrian CWDs with personalized support, training teachers  (including shadow teachers) to identify and assist them with appropriate tools. It also offers Jordanian schools new systems to ensure access to equitable learning opportunities and works with communities to raise awareness around CWDs. Additionally, Mercy Corps plays an active advocacy role in institutionalizing inclusive education policies in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.