In a bustling classroom in Irbid, Jordan, Amira Ellari flips through her lesson plan, preparing for the day ahead. Just a year into her teaching career, she’s already witnessed how small changes in approach can make a big difference. “The training changed how I view the teaching experience,” she says with a smile.
Empowering teachers in crisis: Amira and Sabaa’s journey
A need for support
Amira, 25, majored in Arabic literature. Like many fresh graduates, she began teaching without formal training from the Ministry of Education due to time and resource constraints. Her colleague, Sabaa Nassar, 24, who studied English literature, faced the same challenge.
Both teach Syrian refugee students in the afternoon shift of one of Irbid’s schools—a setting that presents unique challenges. As second-generation refugees, these students may not experience direct war trauma, but they face challenges stemming from having parents who have endured it, along with the uncertainties of their own futures. Additionally, teachers need to contend with overcrowded classrooms and continually develop creative, engaging teaching methods.
A need for support
Amira, 25, majored in Arabic literature. Like many fresh graduates, she began teaching without formal training from the Ministry of Education due to time and resource constraints. Her colleague, Sabaa Nassar, 24, who studied English literature, faced the same challenge.
Both teach Syrian refugee students in the afternoon shift of one of Irbid’s schools—a setting that presents unique challenges. As second-generation refugees, these students may not experience direct war trauma, but they face challenges stemming from having parents who have endured it, along with the uncertainties of their own futures. Additionally, teachers need to contend with overcrowded classrooms and continually develop creative, engaging teaching methods.
Recognising this need, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), with the support of the Swiss Development & Cooperation, introduced INEE’s Teachers in Crisis Contexts (TICC) training, first implemented in 2023, to equip new teachers with essential knowledge and skills for crisis-affected communities. The five-day training covers key topics such as child protection, lesson planning, and effective teaching strategies. It’s a crucial intervention for teachers like Amira and Sabaa, who are eager to grow but lack access to professional development opportunities.
From theory to practice
The training didn’t just provide information—it reshaped the way these teachers interact with their students. “When the student becomes central to teaching, it builds ownership and responsibility, which improves outcomes,” Sabaa explains. “It’s as simple as talking less in the classroom so that students can talk more.”
One of the most valuable aspects of the training was the Better Learning Programme (BLP), which introduces stress-reducing techniques to help students focus. “We learned breathing exercises that we can apply at the start, during, or at the end of class,” Amira shares. “These small techniques help students concentrate and regain energy.”
Beyond academics, the training emphasised child protection—teaching the educators how to recognise signs of bullying or distress and how to respond appropriately. “It made us more aware of what students go through outside the classroom and how that affects their learning,” Amira says.
Lasting impact
To reinforce the training, NRC’s Education Team provides additional follow-up through peer-to-peer classroom observations, helping teachers transition toward independence. Amira and Sabaa have already noticed improvements in learning outcomes from one month to the next. They also received positive feedback from their school principal and supervisor. “We wish [the training] was longer than five days so we could go deeper into each subject,” Sabaa adds.
For these young teachers, the training is more than just professional development—it’s a step toward shaping a better future for their students. Through their dedication and the support of NRC, they’re not just teaching lessons, but they are also nurturing hope, resilience, and opportunity in a time of crisis.
NRC’s impact extends beyond classrooms. With extensive experience in integrating teacher training at the national level through the Ministry of Education, NRC ensures that psychosocial support is embedded in teaching practices for both educators and students. In 2022, NRC trained more than 4,000 school counsellors, and in 2024, an additional 400 counsellors across all directorates in Jordan received training on the use of the contextualised BLP package, equipping them with the skills needed to support refugee students and foster inclusive learning environments.
Sign up to our newsletter to read more stories from around the world.