5,000 Syrians in Jordanian schools'

5,000 Syrian students are currently in Kingdom's schools Amman - Arabstoday Around 5,000 Syrian students are currently enrolled in the Kingdom's schools, according to an official source. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, made the remarks after the education ministry's decision earlier this month to enrol Syrian students in schools even if they are not registered with the UN refugee agency, UNCHR. The ministry refused to give details about the number of Syrians in Jordanian schools, saying that the issue is "political". On the other hand, UNICEF estimated the number of Syrian students receiving education in Jordan at around 4,000, 48 per cent of whom are under 18. "At this time, we are supporting the education ministry in providing services to Syrian students," UNICEF Representative in Jordan Dominique Hyde told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday. She added that the agency will sign a protocol with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation next week in order to assist the ministry in accommodating the Syrian students. Hyde noted that UNICEF also provides psychological support and education to Syrian children residing in Ramtha and Maan through the Noor Al Hussein Foundation and the Princess Basma Centre. Around 89 per cent of Syrians residing in Ramtha are children, she highlighted.  Over 78,000 Syrian nationals have crossed into Jordan since the launch of a military crackdown on peaceful protesters in March 2011, including 1,400 who crossed into the Kingdom “illegally” and 200 Syrians who returned home, according to an official source. The UNHCR, which only counts those registered with the agency as refugees, estimates the total number of displaced Syrians in Jordan at between 4,000 and 8,000.