• WEF - Gaza Report

last modified December 15, 2010 by TALAAT

Final Report

Written by: TeacherCreativityCenter

Gaza strip

November 2010

Introduction:

The World Education Forum succeeded in implementing its events in Gaza that can be shown form bonding to the Forum Program as well as implementing all of its events in the due time (October 28- 31, 2010). The huge participation from the audience, around 1200 persons, was a clear evidence for the Forum Success. 21 work papers were presented from Palestinian Universities' doctors and professors, and researchers. Moreover, 80 NGOs joined the National Committee of the World Education Forum.

The Teacher Creativity Center is a member of the Secretary Committee which played the role of the organizer and supervised many tasks such as : the management of the event, mobilization of the volunteers, logistic work, Financial management, coordination and communication, and organizing and leading the meetings.

PNGO is a member of the Secretary Committee. It was concerned with the International and National Media and communicating and coordinating with them for media coverage.

Al Azhar is a member of the Secretary Committee. They helped in managing and forming the Schedule of the events and also nominating the academics and university's professors. They also hosted some of the events at the university.

PHDC is a member of the Secretary Committee and they played the role of communicating the volunteers and building their capacity.

Moreover, the Islamic University of Gaza, The Aqsa University, and the Al Quds Open University are all members of the Secretary Committee.

  

Objectives:

 

1.      Building a meeting marked by the diversity of its representatives, as well as its themes and at the same time by the convergence of hopes and the fight for a society and a world where there is more justice, more democracy, and more solidarity.

2.      Generating new and expanded high quality educational knowledge and tools in promoting greater social justice and equity between nations.

3.      Emphasizing educational knowledge, concepts, policies and mechanisms to tackle violence, inequality and violations against the right to education.

4.      Developing and honing the institutional change agency and advocacy skills and dispositions of educational policy-makers and teachers, as well as their ability to seed those same capacities in their students. 

5.      Building and sustaining new and strong alliances for mobilization and effective action between national, regional and international social movements and educational organizations.

6.      Launching world wide ccampaigns within the context of the educational forum such as a campaign against: commercialisation and privatisation of education; poverty; aids; political use of education; as well as campaigns for national Palestinian rights; women’s rights; new media campaigns which portray non-violent alternatives; human rights in education.

7.      Strengthening social, educational, cultural interaction, dialogue and solidarity between national, regional and international social movements and educational organizations.

8.      Sharing cultural experiences and local identity, all along with respect for the others and cultural diversity.

9.      Promoting international solidarity with the Palestinians in their legitimate struggle to freedom, an independent state, right to education.

 

Preparations:

 

1- Meetings:

Participants:

         1 -The National Committee Secretary's members:

         - TeacherCreativityCenter

         - PNGO

         - Palestinian Universities/Gaza: Islamic University, Al Azhar University, Al Aqsa University, and Al Quds Open University.             

         - General Union of the Cultural Centers

         - The Palestinian Commission for Human Development.

 

        2 - Sharek Youth Forum

        3 – UNESCO

        4- Ma'an DevelopmentCenter.

        5- Tamer Institute.

        6- Aman Committee

        7- Women General Union

        8-Creative Women Forum

 

(PS: please find the attached files)

Objectives of the meetings:

 

The secretary of the national committee of the WEF organized 20 coordination and preparation meetings with aim of:

-   forming the main activities program ( form and content) 

-   Deciding the events which are going to be implemented

-   Identifying the financial, material, technical potentials

-   Dividing the tasks and roles between the institutions

-   Encouraging those who are concerned in an effective participation

-   Building relationships with all parties in order to join the program's National Committee.

 

Depending on that, the following is achieved:

 

Since the emergence of the idea of preparing the WEF in Palestine, we have been working on many activities and events which contribute successfully and effectively in Gaza Strip, therefore, a range of activities had been implemented to promote the role of the Educational Forum Committees according to the secretary committee's recommendations in its last meeting as following:

-   Academics, and important figures were invited to attend a workshop in order to discuss the WEF themes and axis

-   Palestinian Press, including satellite TV channels, broadcast, newspapers, news agencies, were also invited to attend a meeting to discuss the media plan for the WEF.

-   Representatives of youth groups and active networks in Gaza were also invited to discuss their role

-   An official invitation was sent to the universities' presidents in order to nominate their preventatives in the Forum's National Committee

-   A form for joining the National Committee of WEF was prepared and distributed to around 120 institutions

-   A huge campaign was organized to invite all interested institutions to join the National Committee of the WEF

-   About 80 institutions and associations joined the WEF National Committee.

 

After taking into consideration the previous points, the following points were achieved:

-   Forming the main activities program (form and content). 

-   Deciding the events which are going to be implemented.

-   Identifying the financial, material, technical potentials.

-   Dividing the tasks and roles between the institutions.

 

2- Technical Preparations, includes:

-   40 Banners, 3 wall boards, 10 standing-banners.

-   brochures, 1300 invitations, 1000 posters

-   1300 folder – 7000 notes paper

-   1300 pens

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implemented activities: the main program:

 

Day 1: Thursday 28, Oct.2010 Opening ceremony:

Mr. Mohssen Abu Ramadan Opening speech of WEF-Palestine.

Mr. Dean Brooks - UNESCO speech.

Mr. Stephan Hessel - International Solidarity Speech.

Mr. Talat Bathatho - WEF Secretariat Speech.

-   The opening ceremony took place in Rashad Al-Shawa Hall. The audiences were about 900 persons including: The Ministry of Education representatives, Academics and professors from GazanUniversities, Students, Teachers, Companies, organizations, Local and International NGOs, and volunteers.

The second Event - Central Conference:

Hold a conference to discuss the 3 themes in 3 different rooms on the social and cultural reality.

The first hall: The first Theme (Education and identity) The president of this session: Dr. Eliyan Al Houli.

Work papers presented in this session:

  1. Education role in promoting the Palestinian Identity.

Paper Presented by: Donia Alamal Ismael – a researcher and a journalist

  1. The educational policy and its role in achieving tolerance between the political parties in the Palestinian society.

Paper Presented by: Amer Khatib – Al Quds Open University  

  1. The preferred Palestinian education is a one towards resistance.

Paper Presented by: Dr. Bassam Abu Hashish – Al Aqsa University.

 

The Second hall: The Second Theme (Education as a mean to free the mind and humans) The president of this session: Dr. Atta Darweesh.

Work papers presented in this session:

1.      Education and liberty in the Palestinian case " critical reading"

Paper Presented by: Tayseer Muheisen – development researcher

  1. The role of the education colleges in preserving the Palestinian cultural identity in front of the cultural globalization challenges.

Paper Presented by: Dr. Rafat Al Awadi– Al Quds Open University  

  1. Education for critical thinking and liberty.

 Paper Presented by: Dr. Salem Qudaih – Al Quds Open University.

-       The Third hall: The Third Theme ( Education for a Just Peace and Equality)

The president of this session: Dr. Nabeel Al Tahrawi.

Work papers presented in this session:

1.       the Siege and its negative effects on the Educational Process in Gaza Strip

Paper Presented by: Dr. Ismael Al Farra – Al Quds Open University

2.      The effectiveness of the Private Educational Institutions in Palestine.

Paper Presented by: Dr. Khamees Al Afeefi – UNRWA 

3.  A suggested vision in applying future learning methods in the researches concerned with the Palestinian Child Education.

 Paper Presented by: Dr. Salem Qudaih – Al Quds Open University

 

 

 

Day 2: Friday 29. Oct 2010

-   Live stories: the Movie "Palestine's Teachers", produced by UNESCO, was showed.

-   A meeting with students and teachers was held in The Teacher Creativity Center in Gaza.

-    The number of audience was about 40 persons including: students, teachers, Companies, organizations, Local and International NGOs, and volunteers – in TCC Gaza Office.

-   Video Art Exposition in cooperation with "Windows from Gaza " for Contemporary art. The number of audience was about 70 persons including: Companies, organizations, Local and International NGOs, and volunteers in the Studio of "Windows From Gaza" in Gaza city.

 

Day 3: Saturday 30.Oct 2010

 

-   The first activity: four workshops were implemented in order to discuss specific axis and themes that are implemented in the following universities:

-   Al Quds Open University

-   The Islamic University

-   Al Azhar University

The work papers which were presented in Al Quds Open University under the theme of " Education for Change" from 10:00 am – 13:00 pm :

The session's president: Dr. Ismael Al Farra.

-   work paper title: the gap between the education and the knowledge Economics in the Educational Institutions.  Presented by: Dr. Feras Ouda, from Al Quds Open University.

-   The work paper title : Education and Human Development. Presented by: Mr Sabbah Thabet, from The Negev for research, development, and documentation

-   The work paper title: The optimal application of the Health Education in the General Education Schools in Gaza Strip . Presented by: Dr. Ziyad Al Jerjawi, from   Al Quds Open University

The work papers which were presented in Al- AzharUniversity under the theme of " Education as a tool for liberating the human and the mind". from 10:00 am – 13:00 pm :

The session's president:  Dr. Mohammed Eliyan.

-   The work paper title: a proposed vision for the Palestinian child as an input for the social control and the acceptance of the other. Presented by: Dr. Suhaib Al-Agha, from Al-AzharUniversity.

-   The work paper title: education and the informing means. Presented by: Dr. Sadeeqa Helles, from Al-AzharUniversity.

-   The work paper title: the role of the civil society in the education. Presented by: Dr. Mohammed Al-Agha, from Al-AzharUniversity.

The work papers which were presented in The Islamic University of Gazaunder the theme of " Education as a tool to free the human and the mind", from 10:00 am – 13:00 pm:

The session's president: Dr. Sanaa Abu Daqqa

-   The work paper title: the activation of the international and local women issues in the educational process. Presented by: Dr. Menwer Nejjem, from the Islamic University of Gaza.

-   The work paper title: the education, the NLP , and the social kind. Presented by: Dr. Mai Nayef, a researcher.

-   The work paper title:  Education and The Human Rights Culture / The Civic Education in Palestine:  Do the bright concepts serve the Palestinian dark reality? Presented by: Dr. Atta Darweesh, from Al Azhar University of Gaza/

 

-   The second activity: A Poetic Evening ( A word can provokes the goodness), at the Cultural and free thinking association- Khan-Younes

-   The third activity:  An Evening Event in cooperation with the General Union of the Cultural Centers. At Gallery – Gaza

Day 4: Sunday, Oct. 31st: the last day

The first activity: a plenary meeting was held to come up with  recommendations for the development of both  the educational and the social levels at - AL-AzharUniversity , with 70 people attending. The president of this session: Dr. Mazin Hamada. Dr. Eliyan Al Houli, and Dr. Mohammed Eliyan, and Dr. Mohammed Hashen Agha participated in delivering the recommendations.  A number of the work papers representatives , universities doctors participated in this meeting. The meeting was held in order to hold discussions with the audience and get as well the recommendations. Those who participated in forming the recommendations put emphasis on the importance of connecting the recommendations with application mechanism to help promoting the educational and social work in Palestine and bonding it with the Global experiences in order on the road to achieve the General objectives of the World Social Forum.  

 

The second activity: workshops in AL-AqsaUniversity:

 

The work papers which were presented in Al Aqsa University under the theme of "Ideologies in Education" with 50 persons attending, from 10:00 am – 13:00 pm:

The session's president: Dr. Bassam Abu Hasheesh.

§         The work paper title: Education and the social and) civil peace. Presented by: Mr. Salah Abd Al Atty, a researcher and a social activist.

§         The work paper title: The skills of thinking- development teaching and the actual and hoped education.  Presented by: Dr. Mossa Helles , from Al Azhar University.

§         The work paper title: The Palestinian university student's efficiency obstacles. Presented by: Dr. Nabeel Al Tahrawi, from Al Aqsa University.

 

-   The third activity:  A march was arranged to the UNRWA and was joined by the organizers, activists, academics, and students.

-   The forth activity: a press conference was organized to put on view the final recommendations, results, and the final statement of the World Education Forum in Palestine- Gaza.

 

 

 

Self-Activity Program:

Date:  7 October 2010

Activity: Entertainment cultural concert for children 

The responsible institution: Participation between El mashael school, Sharek youth forum and East Gaza Association

Location: MashaelSchool at 11:00 am

Attendance: 200

Date: 15 October 2010

Activity: Implementation of workshop entitled "The Role of Education in promoting the values of integrity and combating corruption

The Responsible Institution: Aman of fairness and transparency

Location: Aman Meeting hall

Attendance: 30

Date: October 26 2010

Activity: Workshop titled Education and innovation

The Responsible Institution: Sharek Youth Forum

Location: Headquarters of Sharek Youth – Gaza.

Attendance: 50 children

Date: October 27 2010

Activity: A cultural program for school student/strong>Headquarters of Sharek Youth – Gaza.

Attendance: 50 children

Date: October 27 2010

Activity: A cultural program for school students

The Responsible Institution: American School-Gaza

Location: American School-Gaza

Attendance: 100Location: NSDL

Attendance: 20

 

Date: October 30 2010

Activity: Documentary film

The Responsible Institution: GazaCenter for Culture and Arts      

Location: Gallery - Gaza

Attendance: 70

Date: October 30 2010

Activity: Workshop entitled "Overview of   Palestinian society for education in Gaza Strip from the political point"

The Responsible Institution: the national initiative  

Location: Meeting Hall of the national initiative –Gaza

Attendance: 30

Date: October 31 2010

Activity: Work shop entitled" Education and culture of human rights" 

The Responsible Institution: Maan work development center

Location: Maan Meeting Hall .

Attendance: 800

 

Date: October 31 2010

Activity: Work shop entitled "undergraduate majors and the relation with educational work environment"

The Responsible Institution: Association of culture and free thought

Location: Meeting hall of  the Association of culture and free thought

Attendance: 50

Date: October 31 2010

Activity: entertaining educational concert of children

The Responsible Institution: Nour el ma'aref school in association with el ta'areed association for development, and Basma foundation

Location: Nour el ma'aref school

Attendance: 500 children

 

Recommendations:

1- special recommendations for the universities, NGOs, and ministries. The most important demand is the need for the coordination between the Palestinian universities and developing the universities according to their requirements in order to create integration and to build up the Palestinian culture by organizing a special course and arrange a particular place for the Palestinian culture and both civic and national education.

 

2- Regarding people with special needs, the researchers  recommended the need to develop new mechanisms to open a new institution concentrating on the special  education. Its rules of procedures and framework should be determined according to the general rehabilitation philosophy established by cooperation between the authority and the civil and foreign sectors.

 

3-Regarding the education and liberty, they demanded developing plans programs trying to treat the negative effects resulted from the aggression of the Israeli occupation towards the society and children in particular

 

4- Regarding teachers, curriculum, and teaching; the researchers asked the responsible authorities to develop the teaching methods, and the curriculum that depends on memorization and receiving. They demand developing the Palestinian curriculum by changing the concept of education from a traditional to self-teaching that can develop thinking skills and can prepare the teachers for developing the learning and thinking skills.

 

5- Regarding women, researchers stressed the need for developing the women enormous potential in the developing process in a better and a more beneficial way; this could be achieved through the Education process.

 

 

Challenges:

-   Weakness in the Palestinian institutions seriousness in participating in international solidarity events.

-   The institutions keep waiting for support and financial aid without initiating and thinking about ways of contribution.

-   Institutions' lack of commitment in the National Committee in the tasks and roles.

-   Dependency in the works of the organizing committee.

-   Foreign solidarity groups couldn’t get to Gaza due to the fact of the closure and the siege imposed on Gaza Strip.

-   Poor visual contact with the organizing committees in Palestine ( The West Bank, 1948 territories, Beirut, and Jerusalem)

-   Low buyer general budget.

-   Difficulties in dealing with the website (www.wef.palestine.org ) since the program and the international participations are not that clear.

-   The work papers representatives asked for more than once for a visual contact with the international universities and events.

-   Weak communication with the coordinators and the decision makers in the forum.

Attachments:

§         Members of the National Committee document.

§         Volunteers Names document.

§         The Event Program.

§         Self- Activities program.

§         Press coverage.

§         Speeches :

-   Mr. Muhsen Abu Ramadan , the head of the administration committee of the PNGOs, WEF speech

-   Mr. Talat Bathatho , the TCC Director- Gaza Bruch-, the national committee of the WEF secretariat speech.

-   Stephen Hessel, the ex-ambassador of France for human rights, speech for the international solidarity.

-   Mr Deen Broxy, The Educational Sponsor in UNESCO, speech of UNESCO on behalf of Ms. Louise Haxthausen.