Improving the Quality of Education in Primaryand Secondary Schools in Palestine

La Facultad de Educación da la bienvenida a Su Excelenciael Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores y Cooperación

Sr. José Manuel Garcia-Margallo22 April 2013

Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura

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in Primary and Secondary Schools in Palestine Improving the Quality of Education

Improving the Qualityof Education

in Primary and SecondarySchools in Palestine

The Faculty of Education, Bethlehem University and Fundacion Promocion Social De La Cultura (FPSC) are responsible for the implementation of the current project “Improving the Quality of Education in Primary and Secondary Schools in Palestine” (2010-2014), funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) which complements the previous project “Improving the Quality of Education For All Through Partnership”, also funded by (AECID) that was implemented in the years (2007-2010) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education through public, UNRWA and private schools.

BACKGROUND Outcomes from the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 and the UN Decade 2005-2014 “Education for Sustainable Development” recognized that lifelong learning and education is a driving force towards sustainable development. In line with this world vision and the Palestinian Ministry of Education’s Strategic and National Developmental Plans, and the Faculty of Education need assessment research results this project seeks to upgrade teachers in pedagogy, special education, and utilizing technology in education to improve the quality of education in the primary and secondary schools in Palestine.

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in Primary and Secondary Schools in Palestine Improving the Quality of Education

PROJECT GOALS

Based on the educational need assessment study, the project was designed upon the results of the study, and the overall objective of the project is:

1. Providing space, equipment, and other educational resources for the Improving Education Project by outfitting the physical infrastructure of the Bethlehem University Zuroub Teacher’s Resource Center and the new Education Building as well as the participating primary and secondary schools, teachers, and students.

2. Strengthening the collaborative network among educational stakeholders in the southern and middle West Bank, including Jerusalem, so that local and international exchanges between teachers and students as well as parents and local community leaders can take place.

3. Improving the teaching and learning skills and qualities of Palestinian educators from schools in the directorates of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and North Hebron by providing practical educational skills and best practices in the areas of:a. Special Education that provides knowledge, skills, tools and access for school teachers and parents to assist school children with learning difficulties and to promote the right for all children to learn.b. Technology and Media in Education that focuses on a wide range of modern and traditional tools, equipment, and media presently available to teachers, encouraging teachers to learn about applying media and technologies in their teaching and learning methodologies and styles. c. Pedagogy with a theme-oriented focus that will provide teachers with quality tools and resources to both stimulate and challenge the students’ different abilities and capacities rather than focusing exclusively on content alone – with special attention given to encouraging school students to be pro-active in learning.

The project goals are in progress to be achieved through the full cooperation between Bethlehem University and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, UNRWA, Private schools and Local NGO’s and Parents.

TARGET GROUPS

The project beneficiaries are:

• Primary and Secondary school students

• School Teachers

• School Principals

• Educational Supervisors

• School Counselors

• Parents and Local Community

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in Primary and Secondary Schools in Palestine Improving the Quality of Education

PROJECT SIGNIFICANCE

The significance of this project stems from these intended outcomes:- Development of physical infrastructure of the Zuroub Teacher’s

Resource Center of the Bethlehem University’s Faculty of Education.

- Development of the competences and qualifications of the teachers and staff in primary and secondary schools in Palestine.

- Strengthening the structure of the cooperative network of those in charge of the educational process in the provinces of Bethlehem, North Hebron, East Jerusalem and the Suburbs.

- Improving the quality of the learning/teaching of the Palestinian teachers in fifty-eight schools in Bethlehem, North Hebron and Jerusalem in three projects components:

Special Education (Learning Difficulties) components:- Technology in Education Pedagogy & Learning / Teaching Methods and Strategies

- Establishing an academic program for Special Education majoring in Learning Difficulties.

- Providing permanent sources and experts to serve teachers and students.

- Providing opportunities for local and international exchange between teachers and students.

- Providing enrollment for 150 in-service teachers for the requirements teaching qualification (Higher Diploma) as it required by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.

- Supporting education for equity, equality, human rights, democracy, cultural identity, pluralism and protection of environment.

- Opening and equipping Remedial Education Resource Rooms for low-achieving school students in the four districts.

- Improving the capacity of Bethlehem University to provide the best training for teachers.

- In Palestine, there are three sectors of schools: public, private and UNRWA. The project serves the schools from the three sectors to improve the quality of education within the Palestinian system.

Summary of the number and sector of schools of the project

District Type of School Number of Schools

Bethlehem

Public 15

Private 16

UNRWA 2

Jerusalem Suburbs Public 5

Jerusalem Public 4

Private 4

North HebronPublic 10

UNRWA 2

Total 58

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in Primary and Secondary Schools in Palestine Improving the Quality of Education

Number of Direct Beneficiaries

District District Number

School Teachers

Bethlehem 773

Jerusalem Suburbs 302

Jerusalem 95

North Hebron 360

TOTAL 1494

School Principals

Bethlehem 180

Jerusalem Suburbs 41

Jerusalem 20

North Hebron 50

TOTAL 291

Educational Supervisors

Bethlehem 41

Jerusalem Suburbs 20

Jerusalem 20

North Hebron 21

TOTAL 102

Parents

Bethlehem 180

Jerusalem Suburbs 80

Jerusalem 40

North Hebron 50

TOTAL 350

Pupils

Bethlehem 1000

Jerusalem Suburbs 400

Jerusalem 300

North Hebron 800

TOTAL 2500

Total No. of Beneficiaries 4737

Major Activities

Type of Activity Target Group

- Training workshops

Teachers, School Principals, Educational Supervisors and School Counselors

- Conferences

- Forums

- Public Lectures

- School Based TrainingTeachers

- Teaching Diploma

- Remedial Education

School pupils - Extracurricular Activities

- Educational Summer Camps

- Open Days

- Awareness Campaigns Parents

- Resource Rooms Pupils with learning difficulties

- Educational summer camp

Bethlehem University - Faculty of Education