Learning with Mom

“I started understanding how important it is to give attention to my children's education and how important their education in the kindergarten really is,” says Fatima, a parent Volunteer from Al-Jabal School, Jordan.

For the first time in Jordan’s Government kindergartens, parents are being actively encouraged to take part in the lives of their children while at school. In support of the Ministry of Education’s Education Reform for the Knowledge Economy (ERfKE) program, the USAID funded ERFKE Support Project (ESP) has helped the Ministry to develop the Parent Involvement Initiative which will fundamentally change the relationship between parents and the educational system, with children as the ultimate beneficiaries.

	“My daughter is pushing me to come everyday. She is so proud of me!” says Ola, Parent Volunteer from Hafsa School, Jordan

Previously, Jordanian parents have not been encouraged to take an active part in the life of kindergartens and their chil-dren’s education. Ministry of Education Kindergarten Teach-ers are solely responsible for an average of 25 children per class. To implement the kindergarten program and curricu-lum effectively, teachers needed assistance in providing the best educational and social experiences. The Parent In-volvement Initiative seeks to get parents actively involved and participating in kindergarten education, supporting the teacher and enabling her to ensure that quality time is spent with each child.

This pilot program has been welcomed by Ministry of Education officials who are planning to roll out the initiative to all public kindergartens in Jordan and their views are echoed by parents who are very keen to ensure their children get the best possible start in life through early education.

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