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Education and Tensions in Jordanian Communities Hosting Syrian Refugees

Status: Published 1 August 2013 - 31 March 2014
Funded
Methodology: Data collection started, Data collection finished
Methodology description: REACH, with support from the British Embassy in Amman, undertook a large assessment in Jordanian host communities focusing on prioritization of needs, vulnerabilities and tensions that have emerged as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. The assessment was undertaken over a six month time period between August and March 2014 and included a series of data collection and analysis exercises. First, a desk review was conducted to outline the broad challenges, needs and priorities in Jordan as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. The findings from this desk review informed the methodology for a key informant assessment in 446 communities in the six northern governorates of Ajloun, Balqa, Irbid, Jarash, Al Mafraq and Zarqa.9 Findings from the key informant assessment were then used to select the 160 host communities most at risk of high tension and insecurity, which were identified based on having the lowest level of resilience.10 REACH then undertook a community-level assessment of Jordanians and Syrians living in these 160 communities from December 2013 until early March 2014. Administration of questionnaires and eight FGDs with on average 6 participants per group were undertaken in each of these communities. During the targeted assessment phase 7,158 individual questionnaires were completed and 1,280 FGDs with Jordanians and Syrians. In addition, REACH hosted six participatory workshops with local government representatives from the six sampled governorates during January and February 2014. The aim of these workshops was to gain a better understanding of perceptions, challenges and needs of local government institutions in providing support to host communities and incoming refugees. In particular, these workshops sought to identify the priority sectors in each governorate to inform programming around social cohesion and resilience. They thereby complemented the community-level data collection to illustrate a comprehensive and nuanced perspective of vulnerabilities and challenges to resilience in Jordanian host communities.
Sampling: Random
Sampling size: 446 communities
Target population: Displaced - Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Non-Displaced - Non-Hosts, Urban / Rural Population, Host Communities, Other Refugee Urban / Rural Population, Non-Displaced - Host
Target settlement: Privately hosted, Individual accommodation (not hosted)
Measurement: Community, Individual, Other

Education and Tensions in Jordanian Communities Hosting Syrian Refugees

Status: Published 1 August 2013 - 31 March 2014
Funded
Methodology: Focus Group Discussion, Community Key informant
Methodology description: REACH, with support from the British Embassy in Amman, undertook a large assessment in Jordanian host communities focusing on prioritization of needs, vulnerabilities and tensions that have emerged as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. The assessment was undertaken over a six month time period between August and March 2014 and included a series of data collection and analysis exercises. First, a desk review was conducted to outline the broad challenges, needs and priorities in Jordan as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis. The findings from this desk review informed the methodology for a key informant assessment in 446 communities in the six northern governorates of Ajloun, Balqa, Irbid, Jarash, Al Mafraq and Zarqa.9 Findings from the key informant assessment were then used to select the 160 host communities most at risk of high tension and insecurity, which were identified based on having the lowest level of resilience.10 REACH then undertook a community-level assessment of Jordanians and Syrians living in these 160 communities from December 2013 until early March 2014. Administration of questionnaires and eight FGDs with on average 6 participants per group were undertaken in each of these communities. During the targeted assessment phase 7,158 individual questionnaires were completed and 1,280 FGDs with Jordanians and Syrians. In addition, REACH hosted six participatory workshops with local government representatives from the six sampled governorates during January and February 2014. The aim of these workshops was to gain a better understanding of perceptions, challenges and needs of local government institutions in providing support to host communities and incoming refugees. In particular, these workshops sought to identify the priority sectors in each governorate to inform programming around social cohesion and resilience. They thereby complemented the community-level data collection to illustrate a comprehensive and nuanced perspective of vulnerabilities and challenges to resilience in Jordanian host communities.
Sampling: Random
Sampling size: 446 communities
Target population: Displaced - Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Non-Displaced - Non-Hosts, Urban / Rural Population, Host Communities, Other Refugee Urban / Rural Population, Non-Displaced - Host
Target settlement: Privately hosted, Individual accommodation (not hosted)
Measurement: Community, Individual, Other
In Jordan, few comprehensive studies have been conducted to provide an in-depth understanding of the key drivers of host community tensions. To address this information gap, this multi-sectoral REACH assessment aimed at identifying where tensions have emerged across northern Jordan as a result of the Syrian refugee crisis, and how they could be mitigated through social cohesion and resilience programming. In the shift from humanitarian relief to long-term development, the assessment aims to promote and inform the mainstreaming of a ‘Do No Harm’ approach in the response provided to conflict-affected populations residing in Jordanian host communities. Sectors assessed included: education, external support, healthcare, livelihoods, municipal services, shelter and water.

Main Findings
REACH assessment findings highlight that perceptions of cultural and behavioural differences between refugee and host communities have led some families to fear the impact of new negative influences on their children. This has prompted parents to call for the segregation of Syrian and Jordanian students in schools across northern Jordan. Anecdotal evidence from this assessment suggests that such demands are fuelled by fears of violence, discrimination and the spread of communicable diseases. Reports of social exclusion, bullying and harassment in and around schools have substantiated these concerns. Therefore, in order to allay fears, the GoJ has introduced a split school-day schedule whereby Syrians and Jordanians are taught separately in either morning or afternoon shifts. However, according to focus group discussions (FGDS) this has not dissuaded some Syrian and Jordanian families from resorting to homeschooling or preventing their children from attending school altogether in an attempt to protect them from the aforementioned concerns or to send them out to work for a living.

Sectors

  •  Education
  •  Community Services

Locations

  • Jordan
  • Syrian Arab Republic