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PA Ministry of Education
fights campaign against Palestinian curricula
The Jerusalem Times
By Saed Abu Farha
7 December 2001
The Ministry of Education has reiterated its rejection of accusations made by
an American non-governmental organization that Palestinian scholastic curricula
"do not teach the notions of peace and coexistence with Israel" and at the
same time work to "plant the seeds of hate" in upcoming Palestinian generations.
The American organization recently published a study about Palestinian curricula for the scholastic years 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, concentrating on 60
schoolbooks and two teacher manuals and criticizing them harshly.
Salah Yasin, general director of the Curriculum Center at the ministry, spoke
on behalf of the ministry, rejecting the accusations. He said he considered the
study part of "a campaign directed against Palestinian curricula that began
with another study conducted by the same organization, which is affiliated with
an extremist Zionist party wishing only to serve the interests of the Hebrew
state."
Yasin indicated that the objective of the new study and similar ones is no more
than serving the Israeli desire to elude its obligations spelled out in signed
agreements, especially political ones. He explained that Palestinian curricula
were examined by international parties and local analysts and were declared fit
and in no way designed to lead to any political gains. Yasin rejected the
accusation that the curricula lack the notion of rapprochement, which is
counterfactual, as attested to by UNESCO, which reviewed the curricula.
As for the accusation that the curricula lack
indications of peaceful coexistence Yasin said, "We cannot discuss peace with
the Israelis when they continue to occupy our land and our students go to
school in the shadow of Israeli tanks. Discussing peace in light of the
Israeli attacks is a form of cheating. We are entitled to teach our children
their history and heritage. Palestine has historical borders known to the
world, and all cities with Israeli names are in fact Palestinian. Palestinian
books, according to the testimony of several local and international
organizations, are legitimate."
Another ministry official agreed with Yasin, explaining that the teaching contained within Palestinian curricula is acceptable and designed to prepare
Palestinian students for the future, especially the process of establishing the Palestinian state. He added that "the curricula try to posit the
Palestinian individual on the threshold of the coming period within a look that
includes relations with the rest of the world."
The official assured that the curricula do not violate international doctrine
connected with the Palestinian struggle, adding that several researchers that
examined the curricula have approved them. He concluded by saying that the
Belgian Government's commitment to supporting the development of Palestinian
curricula is another indicator of the strength of the Palestinian education
system and the high level of trust in it. |