Education reviews the achievements and interventions of two and a half years and emphasizes the continued development of education

Ramallah - Ofoq News - The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, in cooperation with the Government Communication Center, organized, today, Monday, a media briefing session (press conference) for the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Prof. Dr. Amjad Barham reviewed the most prominent achievements of the education sector and its interventions during the era of the nineteenth government, and the efforts made to develop the educational system, especially within the framework of the “Education for Development” plan, in addition to discussing the most prominent challenges and priorities of the next stage.

At the beginning of his speech, Barham saluted the teachers, male and female, and all members of the educational and academic family, praising their continued performance of their mission in light of the barriers, closures, invasions, and financial crisis, stressing that they are the basic foundation for the continuation and steadfastness of the educational process.

At the beginning of his presentation to the conference; The Director of the Government Communications Center, Dr. Muhammad Abu Al-Rub noted that this meeting reviews the harvest of more than two years of work in the education sector, and the efforts made to develop the educational system and enhance its ability to respond to challenges. Dr. highlighted. Abu Al-Rub shed light on the direct obstacles imposed by the occupation, especially the crisis of piracy of clearing funds and the detention of Palestinian funds, which cast a difficult shadow on various vital sectors, most notably the education sector, stressing the extreme importance of overcoming this imposed financial and political crisis. He also stressed the continued work on developing interactive education, employing technology, enhancing the quality of education, and ensuring the continuity of the educational and academic process despite various challenges.

Barham explained that the Gaza Strip witnessed widespread destruction that affected more than 251 government schools, while more than 92% of school buildings were damaged, in addition to the destruction of dozens of university buildings, and the death of more than 23,500 students, teachers, and educational staff in schools and universities in Gaza and the West Bank.

He pointed to the continuing challenges in the West Bank, including the displacement of students in Jenin and Tulkarm, the threat of demolition of 14 schools in Masafer Yatta, and the restrictions that hinder the access of students and teachers to their schools in the Old City of Hebron, in addition to the targeting of Al-Mughayir schools and the suffering of population centers in the Jordan Valley and elsewhere.

He stressed that the deficient salaries and the decline in regular working hours have a negative impact on the educational process, stressing the need to provide safe environments for students and guarantee their right to reach their schools and continue their education.

In his review of achievements; Barham explained that the Ministry completed the construction, expansion, and equipment of 61 educational buildings, including 53 academic schools, 3 vocational schools, and 5 kindergartens, at a total cost of $54.4 million. These projects contributed to the provision of 533 classrooms and 25 vocational workshops, in addition to facilities, playgrounds and arenas, and benefited about 16,500 students.

The Ministry also completed rehabilitation and maintenance work on 531 educational buildings at a cost of $13.8 million, benefiting more than 150,000 students, both male and female.

Construction work on 16 schools and an educational building in Nablus continues at a cost of $25.5 million, in addition to rehabilitating 40 schools and educational buildings, and completing procedures for constructing 13 educational buildings at a cost of $20.7 million.

He pointed to the recent opening of (6) schools in Nablus, the two primary primary schools in southern Nablus and Jawdat Ayesh Al-Barghouthi in Kafr Ain in Birzeit District, and the completion of the Yatta Mixed Vocational Secondary School at a cost of $7 million, in addition to preparing to build five model schools with the support of Palestinian businessman Hammad Al-Harazin.

He valued the contributions of the local community in supporting education, stressing the importance of national and community partnership in developing schools and providing better educational environments for students.

Barham stressed that the Ministry is continuing its interventions to ensure the continuation of education in the Gaza Strip despite the destruction and displacement, explaining that more than 540,000 male and female students are enrolled in 719 educational centers, in parallel with the continuation of virtual educational interventions and coordination with the Relief Agency.

He added that the Ministry enabled 107,000 male and female students to take the high school exams over a period of two years, and implemented the exams in about 50 countries for students outside Palestine.

He pointed out that the Ministry gave Gaza students priority in external scholarships, despite the difficulties that prevent many of the students who received them from leaving the Strip, and it also continued programs to support universities and cover student fees.

He stressed the need to provide safe and appropriate educational places in Gaza, especially with the approaching winter, in order to ensure the continuation of education and preserve the students’ right to an appropriate environment.

Within the framework of the "Education for Development" plan, Barham reviewed the Ministry's efforts to expand vocational and technical education, which includes 22 vocational schools and 68 vocational units, in addition to completing the national strategy for literacy and promoting early childhood education.

He explained that the Ministry is working to develop curricula, integrate digital skills, enhance the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) approach, and expand interactive, flexible education and digital transformation.

In this context, the Minister referred to training about 11,000 male and female teachers for grades one to four, and providing targeted classes with interactive screens. In order to enhance the use of technology and develop student-centered teaching and learning methods.

Efforts are also continuing to complete a new secondary school system, develop the national curriculum framework, promote inclusive education, and more.

In the file of higher education; Barham stressed the ministry’s keenness to support Palestinian universities and enhance their ability to continue in light of difficult financial circumstances, pointing out the importance of the program to cover the installments of employees’ children from dues in supporting students, universities, and employees.

He explained that the Ministry is continuing its interventions to support universities in Gaza, cover student fees, and follow up on the return of facial university education wherever possible, in addition to covering the fees of students from Gaza studying in Egyptian universities.

He added that the Ministry has begun reviewing the reality of postgraduate programs and their specializations, and is working to enhance applied scientific research and direct universities towards programs that are compatible with the needs of the labor market, in addition to working to activate the National Center for Artificial Intelligence with support from the South Korean government worth $15 million.

The Minister appreciated the efforts of Palestinian universities, calling on international institutions, the private sector and the local community to enhance their support, pointing to upcoming agreements with businessman Hammad Al-Harazin to establish colleges at the universities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem, and to build schools for the gifted in a number of governorates.

Barham stressed that the next stage will witness continued work on developing the high school system, expanding electronic assessment and vocational education, completing the national qualifications framework, the education vocationalization system, developing curricula and scientific research, and enhancing the use of technology and renewable energy in educational institutions. He also pointed out that the Ministry aims to raise the percentage of enrollment in vocational education to 20% in the coming years, and to expand interactive education. To reach higher ranks.

Regarding education in Jerusalem; Barham pointed to the challenges facing Jerusalem schools, including restrictions on the Palestinian curriculum, obstruction of construction and development of facilities, and restrictions on teachers’ access and school activities.

In conclusion; The Minister stressed that empowering Palestinian students with education is not only a job responsibility, but rather a national, moral, and humanitarian duty, stressing the continuation of work to establish this right and strengthen the steadfastness of educational institutions despite the destruction, the financial crisis, and the field challenges. He appreciated the support of the institutions of the presidency and government, the governments of Jordan and Egypt, international partners, supporting institutions, the private sector, and the local community.