EDUCATION IN THE ZAATARI CAMP

image Hopes for Women in Education

Over half the residents of the Zaatari Camp are children. The importance of establishing stability and some routine in their lives is crucial to their well being and development. Basic education is regarded as an indispensible first step to improve the situation of young refugees in the Zaatari Camp. For many refugee children, school is a safe place where they can learn new things, play sport and make friends.

There are currently nine schools operating in the camp, all on a double shift basis, with girls studying in the mornings and boys in the afternoon. In principle, all girls and boys in Za’atari camp have access to school. However, regular attendance is markedly low. According to UNHCR, about one in every three children in Zaatari does not go to school at all. Initially many parents thought there was no point sending their children to school because they assumed they would be back in Syria within months. That has proved not to be the case.

Image UNHCR/ J Kohler

There are many reasons why children are not attending schools in the Zaatari Camp. Too far or dangerous to walk to school, children have already missed months or years of school, children need to stay at home to look after younger siblings or work to bring in much needed income for the family and in some cases, girls are forced into marriage at a young age.

Here in Australia, many of us take education for granted. There are many different options available to families and children are provided with an abundance of opportunities. Education is taken for granted. There are two major reasons why education is vital to refugees. Firstly, education helps restore a daily routine and secondly, the urgent need to encourage literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills to ensure that refugee children can have a better future and help rebuild their country.