- Title: Jordanians struggling to adopt online education following coronavirus lockdown
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: SIGN READING (Arabic): "SUKAINA BINT HUSSEIN HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS"
- Embargoed: 7th April 2020 11:43
- Keywords: COVID-19 Coronavirus Health Jordan Lockdown Online learning Remote education
- Location: AMMAN, JORDAN
- City: AMMAN, JORDAN
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: Education,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA004C6EW9XX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Teachers and students across Jordan have to adapt to a new virtual classroom, after a strict lockdown to combat the spread of coronavirus prevented normal schooling in the kingdom.
The government announced on Monday (March 23) it would extend a curfew indefinitely, as confirmed cases of the illness have steadily risen within a week to 127 people from six.
Schools have asked some teachers to hold online classes, while in other schools, courses were broadcast on national television stations.
A 17-year-old high school student said this was a bit of a shock at first.
"It really affected us emotionally because when you have a teacher in front of you who talks to you and explains things to you, who you can interrupt and ask questions about certain things, it's different than watching a screen," Mona Hussein said.
And for many parents, there's the added struggle of juggling their children's education while working from home.
"All the classes and all the effort will be from the household and there's no help," said Reem Al-Jaony, mother of five.
The country has deployed thousands of troops at checkpoints in main cities to ensure the curfew was heeded, saying many residents had flouted earlier calls to stay home.
Streets across the capital and main cities were deserted, with schools and shops shuttered as police patrolled neighbourhoods and the army manned checkpoints.
Humanitarian groups say many of Jordan's poor, who make up the majority of the population, are already suffering from scarce food supplies and would be further hurt by an extended curfew.
The government has said it will help low income wage earners by delivering subsidised bread and food items that have a cap on their retail prices
(Production: Mohammed Ramahi, Bushra Shakhshir, Jehad Abu Shalbak) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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