Happiness, apprehension for students and parents on first day of school

AMMAN — Some 2,000,000 students returned to schools on Wednesday as in-class education resumed throughout the Kingdom after several months of distance learning.اضافة اعلان

Many students and parents said that they were overwhelmed with joy and apprehension on the first day of the new scholastic semester.

According to students, parents, and even teachers who spoke to Jordan News, returning to classrooms has its disadvantages and advantages.
Mohammad Abdul Majeed, a father, told Jordan News that "our opinions towards returning back to classroom learning is not important anymore; whether we like it or not, this is the case and we cannot change anything.”



Students return to schools on Wednesday as in-class education resumed throughout the Kingdom. (Ameer Khalifa/Jordan News)

Abdul Majeed added that "no doubt that classroom learning is much better than distance learning because teachers know how to deal with students better than we, as parents, can. They get the proper learning they need in school and nothing can ever take the school's place in this."

"As a parent, my only concern is that my children might get infected by coronavirus. … I have a mixed feelings of happiness and fear at the same time," he said, adding that he is praying they will remain safe and healthy.
Eman Baraiseh, a mother, told Jordan News that she has been teaching her children how to take care of their health since the beginning of the pandemic, because she knew there would be a day when in-person learning would return.

Baraiseh added: "they know that they should keep their masks on all the time, sanitize every now and then, and of course not shake hands with anyone."
"I believe that staying at our homes will not help us, the virus is there whether we like it or not," she said.

Hussein Al-Shareef, a student, told Jordan News that he was excited to get back to school. "I have missed my children and teachers, and I have been waiting for this day since months ago," he said.

"During distance learning, we used to get lessons for hours, but away from our friends and teachers and that was boring," he said. "Being with your friends is something else, it even motivates and encourages me to study and achieve more."

Hala Mohammad, a teacher, told Jordan News that whether it be in-class learning or distance learning what is important is that students be given the opportunity to achieve.

“I believe that the government takes the best decision for the good of the students. Returning to classrooms is a decision that is based on scientific studies, and on the epidemiological situation of the country, which pushed them to take such a decision," she said.

“It is still early to determine whether it is a good or bad decision, we must wait for couple of weeks to decide," she concluded.



Students return to schools on Wednesday as in-class education resumed throughout the Kingdom. (Ameer Khalifa/Jordan News)

Secretary-General for Administrative Affairs at the Ministry of Education Najwa Qubailat has previously told local media that in schools there will be a square meter separating students and with students who test positive for COVID-19 will have to attend distance learning for 14 days.

She also indicated that any school that reaches a 10 percent infection rate will return to distance learning for 14 days.

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