AMMAN, Sept. 29 (Petra) -- Director of UNRWA Affairs in Jordan Amanya Michael Ebye said the Cabinet’s decision to exempt the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) from the cost of school textbooks for the current academic year, valued at more than JD3.3 million, reflects the longstanding partnership between the agency and the Jordanian government and contributes to supporting education for Palestine refugees in the Kingdom.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Ebye said UNRWA schools have long followed the Jordanian national curriculum, which is aligned with UNESCO standards, and have used Jordanian school textbooks.

He expressed UNRWA’s appreciation and gratitude for Jordan’s support, noting that the decision is significant beyond its financial value because it directly benefits students receiving services from the agency by ensuring they have the textbooks needed at the start of the academic year.

Ebye said the measure is particularly important because many students enrolled in UNRWA schools come from vulnerable Palestine refugee families, making access to essential educational materials an important factor in supporting their continued education.

He said that, at the start of the 2026/2027 academic year, UNRWA was serving more than 98,122 students, from first through 10th grade, through 161 schools across the kingdom.

Education is UNRWA’s largest program in Jordan, Ebye said, adding that students in UNRWA schools account for more than 7 percent of all students enrolled in Ministry of Education schools.

He noted that demand for UNRWA education services continues to grow each year, placing pressure on the agency’s infrastructure and available resources. Around 80 percent of UNRWA schools operate on a double-shift system to meet the growing demand for education.

Meeting the annual educational needs of this number of students requires sustained investment in teachers, facilities and educational materials, including textbooks, he said. This makes support covering recurring costs, such as schoolbooks, particularly important to UNRWA and its education program in Jordan.

On UNRWA’s financial challenges, Ebye said the agency relies almost entirely on voluntary contributions from UN member states, making it highly dependent on continued donor support.

He said the current financial environment, marked by a significant funding gap, has made this dependence more evident and requires UNRWA to continue implementing cost-control measures and prioritizing its programs to ensure the continued provision of essential services to Palestine refugees.

Contributions that cover specific and recurring costs, such as school textbooks, are particularly important in this context, he said, as they help free up resources from the already constrained education budget and direct them toward maintaining school operations and the quality of educational services throughout the academic year.

Regarding Jordan’s position on UNRWA and its role in serving Palestine refugees, Ebye said the agency appreciates Jordan’s continued and consistent support for Palestine refugees under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II.

He noted that Jordan’s commitment has remained firm throughout more than seven decades of partnership, including through hosting the largest number of Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA and continuing to support and defend the agency’s mandate internationally.

Ebye said Jordanian leadership has consistently placed the welfare, dignity and rights of Palestine refugees among its priorities, stressing UNRWA’s appreciation for Jordan’s continued and lasting solidarity.

He added that Jordan’s political, humanitarian and educational support for UNRWA is an important factor enabling the agency to continue fulfilling its mandate and providing essential services to Palestine refugees, particularly education, amid its difficult financial circumstances.

Ebye expressed UNRWA’s sincere gratitude to Jordan’s leadership, government and people for their continued support.

//Petra//WH