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Palestinian
Education Initiative
Education in Palestine
PEI: Engine For Change
Education in Palestine
Throughout their long and turbulent history,
the Palestinian people have relied on the human resources,
particularly the human mind and skills, to sustain their survival
and development as a nation. In that context, education has been
always considered by Palestinians as the one prerequisite, not only
for nation building but also for achieving a genuine and sustainable
peace.
Since its establishment in 1994, the Ministry
of Education & Higher Education (MOEHE) has commit it self to reform
the inherited education system with the aim to assist the
preparation of the Palestinian citizens towards life in a democratic
society, and towards the contribution of the economy of the society.
The Ministry has been working very hard to build an education system
responsive to social, cultural and developmental needs of
Palestinian people to be an active participant within the global
economy. In pursuing that vision, the Ministry faced many
challenges; among which is the unification of the two systems of
education in Gaza and West Bank, the expansion of school buildings
to meet the enormous demand on education, the equipping of schools
with needed labs and equipment, the training of teachers, and the
development of special programs to meet the different needs of the
population.
The Ministry has always believed that a
quality education system is one that focuses on equipping students
with knowledge and skills for lifelong learning as a vehicle for
achieving sustainable development. The Ministry embarked on
developing the Palestinian Curricula as part of the educational
reform process. The Ministry, aware that a knowledge based economy
depends on the use of ideas and applications of technology, has
introduced technology education and IT in the new curricula from
grades 5-12 and introduced English language from Grade 1.
In order to respond to it’s commitment of
preparing students with knowledge and skills to meet the challenge
of rapid technological production, the Ministry took several steps
toward embedding ICT within the education system. Almost 50% of
MOEHE schools were equipped with computer labs, the Schools Net
project is implemented in 16 schools, the schools on line is another
project implemented in 10 schools, and the Ministry’s new initiative
aiming at developing a new web site Zajel to enable students and
teachers to interact with each others, exchange experience in lesson
planning and make use of available information.
PEI: Engine For Change
The overall objective of the PEI is the
enhancement of the future of education in the PNA through
pedagogical techniques empowered by technology that catalyzes
socio-economic development.
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To improve the existing ICT utilization in
the PNA education system and pave the way for the development of
Knowledge Based Palestinian Economy through Public/Private
collaboration
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To encourage innovation in the education
system and throughout the Palestinian ICT industry by fostering a
sustainable model of public/private partnership in an effective
adaptation and use of information and communication technology in
the education system.
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To build the capacity of the PNA education,
ICT and knowledge industry for the development of innovative
learning solutions in partnership with world class and local
firms, creating economic value leading to mutually beneficial
business opportunity.
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To enhance a student centered learning
process that provides skills, knowledge, and experiences that will
lead to employment and an entrepreneurial mindset
The guiding principles driving this initiative
are based on the following:
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Adopting a participatory approach between
relevant stakeholders to arrive at nation wide consensus
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Adopting a partnership and collaboration
approach between the private sector companies and the Palestinian
government
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Providing a menu of opportunities for the
private sector to participate that leverages their expertise,
resources, existing programs and products
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Building on, benefiting from, and
complementing similar regional initiatives; the Jordan Education
Initiative is a success story of such an approach.
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Emphasizing the PNA and the Ministry of
Education’s decentralization policy through enhancing the district
capacity and capabilities in the implementation process
http://www.pei.ps/
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