The Minister of Education, Tayseer al-Nuaimi, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Muhyieddeen Touq, Minister of labour, Nidal Bataineh, and the Minister of State for Media Affairs, Amjad Adaileh, held a press conference on Tuesday, to address the latest updates regarding the return to education for school and university students in Jordan. 

Adaileh announced schools and universities will begin as scheduled and will follow the usual time frame. 

Classes will be held on school and university premises for the duration of the academic year, he added. 

Strict health and safety measures will be implemented to ensure the safety of students and teachers, for which staff was trained in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.

Bataineh said business owners are entitled to cut workers wages by a maximum of 50% if they live in areas that have been isolated — as long as it does not drop below the minimum wage limit. 

Workers living in isolated areas may be instructed to perform duties from home but should not be expected to attend their workplace outside the isolated area, based on Defence Order 6. 

Nuaimi called on parents not to send their children to school if they show any COVID-19 related symptoms or if their homes have been isolated. 

In school that cannot meet the health and safety protocols, teaching will be conducted in shifts, he added.

The Ministry of Education will continue to offer distance learning for students who cannot attend classes.

Some classes, such as physical education and art, will be cancelled, school canteens will be closed and breaks will be shortened, he added.

Touq announced September 27 as the first official day for university students and September 20 as the first day for faculty members. 

University classes will involve both distance and on-campus learning.