PA Ministry of Education strongly opposes any attempt by UNRWA to change the PA curriculum and schoolbooks
Headline: “The [PA] Ministry of Education reiterates its complete opposition to any step that harms the Palestinian curricula”
“The [PA] Ministry of Education and Higher Education reiterated its complete opposition to any step or attempt that UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) or any international body are liable to make against the Palestinian curricula – whether by omitting, changing, or adding any materials in contradiction of the philosophy of the [PA] curricula and in contradiction of the contents of the schoolbooks in everything connected to the national identity and cultural, social, and national heritage of our people.
The ministry stated in a notice yesterday [Nov. 7, 2017]: ‘In light of the talk about the UNRWA administration’s intention to add materials called “enrichment” material to our national curricula, the ministry explains that as part of the contacts made in the past with the UNRWA administration regarding the curricula, it was clearly and explicitly emphasized that it is necessary to be committed to the contents of the schoolbooks and their basic assumptions, and that all of the materials that UNRWA is interested in adding must be complementary and consistent with all of the contents of the schoolbooks.’
The ministry emphasized that all of the material that UNRWA is likely to add to the curricula must not harm the contents of those books, especially in light of the fact that according to international law, UNRWA is obligated to implement the curricula of the host countries. In the same context, it noted that the only body that has the right to change or add new materials to the curricula is the Curricula Center, which is under the [PA] Ministry [of Education and Higher Education].”
“The [PA] Ministry of Education and Higher Education reiterated its complete opposition to any step or attempt that UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) or any international body are liable to make against the Palestinian curricula – whether by omitting, changing, or adding any materials in contradiction of the philosophy of the [PA] curricula and in contradiction of the contents of the schoolbooks in everything connected to the national identity and cultural, social, and national heritage of our people.
The ministry stated in a notice yesterday [Nov. 7, 2017]: ‘In light of the talk about the UNRWA administration’s intention to add materials called “enrichment” material to our national curricula, the ministry explains that as part of the contacts made in the past with the UNRWA administration regarding the curricula, it was clearly and explicitly emphasized that it is necessary to be committed to the contents of the schoolbooks and their basic assumptions, and that all of the materials that UNRWA is interested in adding must be complementary and consistent with all of the contents of the schoolbooks.’
The ministry emphasized that all of the material that UNRWA is likely to add to the curricula must not harm the contents of those books, especially in light of the fact that according to international law, UNRWA is obligated to implement the curricula of the host countries. In the same context, it noted that the only body that has the right to change or add new materials to the curricula is the Curricula Center, which is under the [PA] Ministry [of Education and Higher Education].”