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