Albawaba.com – Ramallah
In spite of school closures, and widespread curfews, the Palestinian educational authorities in Hebron in the West Bank have hit on an innovative idea to ensure that children can continue their education during the Aqsa Intifada.
In a copy of a letter from Khalil Mahshi, Director General for International and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education to his colleagues, which was e-mailed to Albawaba Monday, Mahshi describes the successful use of distance education in the West Bank.
“Before Al Aqsa Intifada”, Mahshi begins his letter, “whenever international education experts or donors suggested to our ministry developing and financing programs or activities in distance education, we would respond that our country is that small that we do not need it. One, obviously, cannot compare Palestine to Australia, where distance education is a must and a success story.”
To date, the education officials in Hebron have been experimenting with distance learning in all core school subjects for over forty days starting with the elementary, and working their way up to the senior grades.
The method has not only proved to be very effective, but it is also highly cost effective. Three local TV stations (Al Amal, Al Majd and Al Nawras) broadcast lessons prepared by supervisors, and selected teachers and pupils. Other lessons are recorded in schools which have not been closed by the curfew. The teachers prepare the programs free of charge and take great pride in the fact that their excellence has been recognized, according to the report.
Mahshi emphasizes the fact that “the only cost to the District Directorate of Education only the 4 dollar cost for each VHS video tape.”
The director of education, Mohammad Qawasmi stressed, said the letter, the vital role of parents in distance education, especially in grades 1 – 4 where children need the help of adults to guide their learning.
Qawasmi notes that “supervisors and teachers urge parents to attend the lesson and to seek assistance from older children if necessary.”
One surprising fact highlighted by the director of education is that the distance education TV programs have reached an unexpected and highly appreciative audience – illiterate parents. “Some of the illiterate parents,” explains Qawasmi,” have nothing to do under curfew except worry and watch the news…but (they are now) learning reading and arithmetic, and other subjects, while assisting their children.”
As an additional aid to learning, the Hebron District education officials have also asked teachers to provide work sheets for all subjects at all grade levels. These sheets include detailed guidelines on what to learn each week, and how the material should be learnt. “In some cases,” said Qawasmi,” the supporting materials are delivered by teachers to the pupils’ homes.
When asked about the success of the scheme, Qawasmi replied “the lessons broadcast on local TV stations are very well received by parents. Not only have the lessons helped to keep learning going while our schools are closed, they have also provided a constructive way for children to spend their time. Instead of sitting bored at home, or just watching bloody scenes and shooting all day on the TV.”
When the situation in Hebron and the rest of the West Bank returns to normal, will distance education still have a role to play? The Ministry of Education is certain that it will and, in the minister’s words “they plan to continue with the TV lessons because they are exemplary lessons, well planned by supervisors and teachers and delivered by the best teachers. They are also model lessons which demonstrate active learning, the form of learning which we emphasize in our Five-Year Education Development Plant (2001 – 2005).
Hopefully, distance learning is helping to give the next generation of Palestinians a brighter future.
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