ActionAid Palestine to Support Technological Infrastructure of Palestinian Schools in Area “C’ and H2

Through its program of “Child Sponsorship” in coordination with the Palestinian ministry of education, ActionAid Palestine (AAP)provided 41 Palestinian schools with laptops to strengthen their technological capacities needed for delivering quality online education during COVID-19. This support aims to ensure that education is a basic human right that should be protected and maintained.

(Photo of donating laptops for the directorate of education provided by ActionAid Palestine for schools in marginalized areas in the south of West Bank -copy Rights for ActionAid Palestine of 2021)

This support targets schools located in remote and marginalized areas in south of West Bank and the old city of Hebron (H2). Those areas are parts of Area “C” which accounts for 60% of West Bank and remains under full Israeli control.

( photo of one of Palestinian schools threatened by demolition in Area “C” of West Bank -Palestine-Copy Rights for ActionAid Palestine 2021 )

The access to education in these areas continues to be compromised due to the protracted occupation. Children continue to face violence and other challenges in accessing schools and the realization of their right to education remains severely compromised due to violence and armed search operations in schools; harassment, intimidation, and violence towards pupils and teachers on the way to and from school; poor education infrastructure; demolition and stop-work orders on school buildings.

Children suffer from loss of school time due to firing tear gas into the vicinity or inside schools, delays at checkpoints and continuous Israeli military presence and operations around schools.

Children also have to walk long distances to reach the nearest school, often having to cross one or two Israeli military checkpoints. In response to these threats, families may adopt “negative coping mechanisms,” such as taking children out of school to limit their exposure to Israeli military occupation violence and harassment, a practice more common among girls than boys.  Dropping out of school is further linked to “early marriage and early pregnancy.”

Ghwen School located in the town of Al- Samou’ in the south of West Bank is one of the 53 schools in Occupied West Bank that are at risk of demolition or 'stop work' orders. 13 Palestinian children are enrolled in the school, which is run by the Palestinian Education Ministry. Its demolition will severely affect the children’s access to education as it is the closest school for them and it can help them to avoid long walks.

(photo of children while they are playing in their school that is threatened by demolition in the south of West Bank -Palestine -Copy Rights for ActionAid Palestine 2021)

The school principal school, Hani Abu Al-Kabash said “The Israeli Occupation Forces (ISF) frequently raid and visit this school to prevent maintenance works and arrest maintenance workers. Our school is often exposed to aerial photography through helicopter flights causing fears for students and negatively affecting their psychological conditions. The school is surrounded by barrier and illegal settlement whose Israeli settlers often harass pupils, despite it being an elementary school. The community’s girls will be affected the most if Israel moves ahead with demolishing the school, as they depend on the school’s proximity to their homes.

(Photo of child in Ghwen school that that is threatened by demolition in the south of West Bank -Palestine -Copy Rights for ActionAid Palestine 2021)

Alma is a pupil in sixth grade studying in Ghwen school: “I suffer from Israeli soldiers when they come to my school to give our school administration notification of demolition affecting our focus and playing in schools. COVID-19 has closed our school and we have difficulties in accessing internet for online education. We are afraid of demolishing our school. if our school is demolished, we will not find a place to play in”.

(photo of Alma in her school in the south of West Bank -Palestine -Copy Rights for ActionAid Palestine 2021)

Hadeel Ibrahim is a third-grade student, (9 years old); “I love my school and COVID-19 crisis prevented us from coming to school. Our school is the only place for learning and meeting friends”.

(photo of Hadeel in classroom in her school in the south of West Bank -Palestine -Copy Rights for ActionAid Palestine 2021)

Sadeel (11 years old): “my school is my life. We cannot enjoy our life due to Israeli occupation. We could not come to school during COVID-19, and we could not continue our education. We have lost many lessons. I am afraid of demolishing my school as this demolition will displace us and prevent us from enjoying our right to education”