UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO EDUCATE ADDITIONAL IRAQIS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 002640 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR NEA AND PRM E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2017 TAGS: PREF PGOV SOCI EAID IZ JO SUBJECT: UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO EDUCATE ADDITIONAL IRAQIS IN JORDAN REF: A. AMMAN 2564 ¶B. AMMAN 2502 Classified By: Classified by Ambassador David Hale for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Embassy Amman remains actively engaged with the GOJ, UNICEF, UNHCR, and key NGOs in preparing programs that will enable Jordanian public schools to accept additional Iraqi students. While all parties await the results of the FAFO survey (ref a) on the demographics of Iraqis in Jordan, UNICEF, donors (including the USG) and potential implementers are developing concrete options to present to the Jordanian Ministry of Education (MoE)-led Steering Committee. All proposals are subject to approval by the MoE-led Steering Committee. USAID is working with its contractors to identify schools that may be double-shifted, if necessary, and areas where additional school space may be rented. UNHCR agreed to fund teachers' salaries, textbooks, and to negotiate with the MoE on reimbursement for operational costs. UNICEF is working with several NGOs who are preparing a summer-readiness program, and additional programs may emerge from PRM's recent RFPs. END SUMMARY. CREATING CLASSROOMS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Double-shifting remains the most efficient means of facilitating sufficient space for additional Iraqis in Jordanian public schools prior to the August 19 opening this year. NOTE: While the GOJ has resisted double-shifting, MoE officials have indicated that double-shifting is preferable to renting classroom space outside regular school grounds. END NOTE. A USAID contractor is using school maps to identify 25-30 schools in East Amman and Zarqa that can be double-shifted in the coming school year; this data will be provided to UNHCR and the MoE by June 26. Costs associated with double-shifting included teacher salaries, additional textbooks and general operations/maintenance. UNHCR plans to negotiate reimbursement with the MoE. ¶3. (SBU) For the longer run, using FY07 supplemental funding, USAID expects to add approximately 150 classrooms to existing schools in East Amman, creating space for approximately 6,000 additional children. Its contractor is identifying sites, and will have a list of potential schools to expand in July. Following MoE approval, the contractor will produce designs and tender documents by January 2008; construction should begin in March 2008 and completed by June or July 2008. TEACHERS AND TEXTBOOKS -------------- ¶4. (C) In meeting with Emboffs on June 18, UNHCR Resident Representative Imran Riza confirmed that UNHCR is able and willing to pay the costs associated with hiring additional Jordanian teachers to accommodate additional Iraqi students in Jordanian public schools. He indicated that UNHCR would encourage MoE to hire one Iraqi "teaching aide" for every three Jordanian teachers they hire. ¶5. (SBU) UNHCR indicated it is prepared to cover additional operating costs, including the cost of rental schools. It will negotiate with the MOE on the subject of additional operating costs, e.g., maintenance, wear and tear, associated with increased use. ¶6. (SBU) While a sufficient number of Jordanians possess the minimum qualifications to be hired as teachers (i.e. they possess a bachelor's degree),they require additional teacher training. USAID plans to use FY07 Supplemental funds to provide to USAID's ongoing Education Reform for the Knowledge Economy (ERfKE) Support Program to develop an in-service teacher training program for these teachers. UNICEF has also expressed an interest in supporting teacher training. ¶7. (SBU) UNHCR indicated that it currently has approximately $12 million to invest in education of Iraqis in Jordan. UNHCR expects the bulk of these funds - approximately ten million - to be focused on formal education to assist the GOJ in integrating additional Iraqi students into Jordanian public schools. PUBLIC OUTREACH -------------- AMMAN 00002640 002 OF 002 ¶8. (C) Riza believed that the early July release of Norwegian NGO FAFO's results of its demographic survey of Iraqis in Jordan may provide an opportunity for the GOJ to publicly announce that Iraqi students may enter the public school system (note: in addition to those already in the system) beginning in August 2007. Riza intends to meet with King Abdullah's Office Director Bassem Awadallah to encourage the GOJ to do so. NOTE: Ambassador will do so as well. END NOTE. ¶9. (SBU) In the absence of a GOJ public information campaign, local NGOs have acknowledged that they can use existing networks of Iraqis that currently receive services to spread the message regarding access to schools. These NGOs and UNICEF remain reluctant to risk their credibility with Iraqis without public or written assurances by the GOJ that parents of students who enroll will not be deported as a result of their enrollment. NOTE: As previously reported, UNHCR acknowledges that it is not aware of any single case of an Iraqi being deported from Jordan as a result of attempting to enroll a child in Jordanian schools. END NOTE. INFORMAL EDUCATION & SUMMER READINESS PROGRAMS -------------- - ¶10. (SBU) UNHCR Representative Riza and Save the Children (StC) country director indicated separately to poloff that they intend to focus on additional informal education options to complement education provided in the Jordanian public schools. Riza said that UNHCR would fund StC to support an additional 1,500 Iraqi children's scholarships to enroll in private Jordanian schools, raising the number of UNHCR/StC-funded Iraqis students in private schools to 3,000. If public school enrollment proves to be successful, then they may attempt to shift these children into public schools in early 2008. ¶11. (SBU) At a June 18 donor coordination meeting chaired by UNICEF, UNICEF presented concept documents related to summer readiness initiatives - prompted by the PRM requests for proposals due on June 22. On June 19, Save the Children - a lead organizer in the education efforts - indicated to poloff that it will not submit a proposal. Mercy Corps may partner with Questscope to deliver programs to approximately 1,000 children, but at this point it is not clear if a larger initiative will materialize. COMMENT: Post suggests that potential implementers offer a summer program that focuses on identifying interested Iraqi children, screens them for placement into Jordanian schools, and does not cover too ambitious a curriculum. Presently, it is unclear how various summer readiness programs may be coordinated and what size audience they may reach. END COMMENT. UNHCR'S UPCOMING APPEALS -------------- ¶12. (SBU) On July 1, UNHCR will launch a new $55 million appeal for Iraqi assistance, of which approximately $12 million would support additional Iraqi education in Jordan. Riza also noted that UNHCR is considering launching a new joint appeal for $110 million with UNICEF focused solely on education of Iraqis in Jordan and Syria. INTER-MINISTERIAL STEERING COMMITTEE -------------- ¶13. (SBU) All proposals for educating additional Iraqis in Jordan are subject to approval of the inter- ministerial MOE chaired Steering Committee (ref b),which is expected to meet in full during the week of June 24. UNICEF hopes to meet with a smaller portion of the group by June 22. Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ Hale