sister harb
07-09-2008, 10:20 AM
09.07.08 - 09:54
Hiba Lama / exclusive / PNN – Despite numerous attempts by the Palestinian Authority to improve the educational system in Palestine, Israeli forces continue to impede the ability of teachers and students to attend schools.
The right of children to education is protected under international law, as stipulated by the Geneva Conventions.
During the last uprising, Israeli forces injured and detained countless students and teachers. This had a significant impact on the ability of schools to provide students with a continuous and regular education.
Global Convention on the Rights of the Child
“A child’s right to education became the most important right under international law in September 1990 when Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child was enacted,” Intesar Hamdan, the Palestinian Teacher Creativity Center program director, said. “Article 28 says that primary education is a basic right for all children.”
She added: “Through the items contained in the Geneva Conventions, we can discern that a child’s right to education includes the right to enroll in school and receive a quality education. Students should learn basic skills that enable them to become active members of society and the state.” There are thousands of students, with Palestinians having one of the higher literacy rates world-wide.
Weakness in Ensuring a Child’s Right to Education
Palestine has participated in several international forums committed to ensuring the right to education for all children. However, Hamdan indicated Palestine’s weakness in the application of the law, noting an overall shortage of schools and classrooms. He stressed the need for the Ministry of Education to allocate a larger portion of their budget to schools and develop a strategy for ensuring advancement within the education system.
Violence in Schools
“When we talk about a safe learning environment, we are not only talking about schools and equipment,” Hamdan explained.
“Although some schools are suffering from a shortage of such material, we are really talking about schools’ psychological and social environment. The Ministry of Education prohibits the use of violence against children, but unfortunately violence exists in Palestinian schools. Violence is used by teachers against students, among students, and by students against teachers.”
Israeli Forces Target the Education System
“Throughout the occupation, Israeli forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian schools,” Hamdan said. “By detaining teachers and students and invading schools, Israeli forces have had an adverse affect on the physical and psychological aspects of the education system. They have killed, arrested and humiliated many students and teachers. Israeli military roadblocks and checkpoints have also prevented many Palestinians from accessing schools.” The United Nations elementary school in Bethlehem's Aida Refugee Camp was riddled with bullet holes until recent repairs were made.
650 Students Killed During Al Aqsa Intifada
Hamdan added: “The latest statistics reveal the extent of the Israeli force’s violation of the right to education. From the outbreak of the second intifada in September 2000 until 15 March 2008, 650 students, 36 teachers and14 educational staff were killed.”
708 Students Arrested, 8,935 Students Injured, 297 Schools Bombed
The Ministry of Education statistics also report that Israeli forces arrested 708 students, 190 teachers and 29 staff. In addition, they injured 8,935 students and 25 teachers, as well as deliberately bombing 297 schools while closing nine.
Wall Affects Education
Hamdan indicated that the Wall has had a significant impact on progress within the education system. She said: “The Wall has created further suffering for Palestinians and added new difficulties for the education system by preventing access to schools.”
Despite the hardships students and teachers face, Palestinians demand their right to education. They are willing to go long distances to preserve that right.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3044&Itemid=1
Hiba Lama / exclusive / PNN – Despite numerous attempts by the Palestinian Authority to improve the educational system in Palestine, Israeli forces continue to impede the ability of teachers and students to attend schools.
The right of children to education is protected under international law, as stipulated by the Geneva Conventions.
During the last uprising, Israeli forces injured and detained countless students and teachers. This had a significant impact on the ability of schools to provide students with a continuous and regular education.
Global Convention on the Rights of the Child
“A child’s right to education became the most important right under international law in September 1990 when Article 28 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child was enacted,” Intesar Hamdan, the Palestinian Teacher Creativity Center program director, said. “Article 28 says that primary education is a basic right for all children.”
She added: “Through the items contained in the Geneva Conventions, we can discern that a child’s right to education includes the right to enroll in school and receive a quality education. Students should learn basic skills that enable them to become active members of society and the state.” There are thousands of students, with Palestinians having one of the higher literacy rates world-wide.
Weakness in Ensuring a Child’s Right to Education
Palestine has participated in several international forums committed to ensuring the right to education for all children. However, Hamdan indicated Palestine’s weakness in the application of the law, noting an overall shortage of schools and classrooms. He stressed the need for the Ministry of Education to allocate a larger portion of their budget to schools and develop a strategy for ensuring advancement within the education system.
Violence in Schools
“When we talk about a safe learning environment, we are not only talking about schools and equipment,” Hamdan explained.
“Although some schools are suffering from a shortage of such material, we are really talking about schools’ psychological and social environment. The Ministry of Education prohibits the use of violence against children, but unfortunately violence exists in Palestinian schools. Violence is used by teachers against students, among students, and by students against teachers.”
Israeli Forces Target the Education System
“Throughout the occupation, Israeli forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian schools,” Hamdan said. “By detaining teachers and students and invading schools, Israeli forces have had an adverse affect on the physical and psychological aspects of the education system. They have killed, arrested and humiliated many students and teachers. Israeli military roadblocks and checkpoints have also prevented many Palestinians from accessing schools.” The United Nations elementary school in Bethlehem's Aida Refugee Camp was riddled with bullet holes until recent repairs were made.
650 Students Killed During Al Aqsa Intifada
Hamdan added: “The latest statistics reveal the extent of the Israeli force’s violation of the right to education. From the outbreak of the second intifada in September 2000 until 15 March 2008, 650 students, 36 teachers and14 educational staff were killed.”
708 Students Arrested, 8,935 Students Injured, 297 Schools Bombed
The Ministry of Education statistics also report that Israeli forces arrested 708 students, 190 teachers and 29 staff. In addition, they injured 8,935 students and 25 teachers, as well as deliberately bombing 297 schools while closing nine.
Wall Affects Education
Hamdan indicated that the Wall has had a significant impact on progress within the education system. She said: “The Wall has created further suffering for Palestinians and added new difficulties for the education system by preventing access to schools.”
Despite the hardships students and teachers face, Palestinians demand their right to education. They are willing to go long distances to preserve that right.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3044&Itemid=1