The recent government decision of students’ return to school next semester has got positive reactions and relief of both parents and teachers.  

Returning to schools will help students with improving their academic level and their mental and health state, it will also enhance the return of working mothers to their jobs, they said.

Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh announced the government's commitment to the return of schools directly and gradually according to the health protocol starting from the beginning of the second semester.

"Although it is a late decision, but they finally responded to our demands to reopen schools, especially for early grades. Students have suffered psychologically, socially, and academically during the closure of schools,” Rand Naffa, a member of the advocacy organisation SADAQA told The Jordan Times.

International studies showed that the percentage of children getting infected by the virus in schools is very low, it also showed infections are not spread easily between children and schools will not help spread the virus, she said.

"This decision will help working mothers to return to their jobs, since many of them have left their jobs to take care of their children’s education,” according to Naffa.

She hoped that the next decision will be the return of kindergartens, since the children’s mental health is affected at home.

"As a working mother I was delighted to hear that schools will reopen, because it was hectic for me to manage my work and keep up with my children’s education. Also, the return of schools will enhance the quality of teaching when compared with distance learning,” Rana, a mother of four, told The Jordan Times.

Samar, a mother of two, told The Jordan Times that mothers will now be able to go back to their normal routine without worrying about staying home with their children.

"I am really glad that my kids will be able to socialise more, I was really concerned for their emotional health, I am also happy that my children will be back on track with their studies,” she said.

"Although online teaching was pretty successful, I cannot wait to go back to school. I am a firm believer of in-class education, not only in delivering information, but also in teaching further life skills and ethics,” Eman, a private school teacher from amman, told The Jordan Times.

"Real life teaching provides teachers and students the opportunity to engage in authentic situations, and attracts attention more efficiently”, she added.