Jordan’s Ministry of Education is enhancing its capacity with the help of NORCAP experts. This initiative aims to improve education planning and crisis preparedness in the region.
Jordan’s education system serves approximately three million students across thousands of schools. The country hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations relative to its size, significantly impacting its education system. The System Strengthening Partnership (SSP) Programme was established to support the Jordanian Ministry of Education.
NORCAP experts were assigned across five technical areas: gender mainstreaming, data and statistics, crisis and risk management, monitoring and evaluation, and partnerships and coordination. This strategic support aims to ensure quality education for both Jordanian and non-Jordanian students.
Meanwhile, Vanuatu has opened a new disaster-resilient classroom built from shipping containers at Suango School near Port Vila. This innovative classroom is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and can be relocated if necessary.
The container classroom was completed on 24 April and cost about VUV$7 million. It can reach up to VUV$10 million with solar power and internet connectivity. Construction took only 27 days, compared to the usual 90 days for traditional builds.
Huw Kingston, involved in the project, emphasized the importance of education in a region frequently affected by natural disasters. He stated, “Education is such an important thing, and with Vanuatu being hit by ever more powerful cyclones… it was a no-brainer.” Prime Minister Jotham Napat echoed this sentiment, highlighting collective responsibility for maintaining these classrooms.
The next steps for both initiatives remain unclear. However, the focus on disaster resilience aligns with global goals for education under the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.
