UNRWA celebrates World Teachers’ Day – UNRWA press release

UNRWA celebrates World Teachers’ Day

الأونروا تحتفل بيوم المعلم العالمي

3 October 2012
Amman, Jordan

On the occasion of World Teachers’ Day (WTD) 2012, and under the theme “Taking a Stand for Teachers,” the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is launching two key programmes, part of its overall education reform strategy, in its five fields of operation.

These are the “Transforming Classrooms” programme of school-based teacher development and the “Leading for the Future” programme, both part of the UNESCO/UNRWA education programme reform strategy, which have been designed to reinforce the Agency’s broader human development and humanitarian agenda. The reform is key to ensuring that UNRWA maintains and strengthens its renowned quality of education. Central to this quality are the teacher and head teacher.

“Across the Arab World, countries are striving to improve the quality of their education system through reform. Many lessons have been learned about what is important, what to focus on, and the way in which to change and improve on what we have. UNRWA’s education reform reflects these lessons with the focus it places on teachers and school leaders, who are key actors in achieving quality education”, said Dr. Caroline Pontefract, UNRWA’s director of education.

“On World Teachers’ Day, we will launch these two reform programmes and celebrate the work of our teachers by recognising their commitment to ensuring a bright future for UNRWA schoolchildren,” she added.

Education is UNRWA’s largest programme, accounting for more than half of the Agency’s regular budget. The Agency operates one of the largest school systems in the Middle East, providing half a million Palestine refugee children with free-of-charge basic education every day.

Below is the list of activities in UNRWA fields of operation:

Gaza

World Teachers’ Day will be celebrated in a central event at the Gaza Training Centre, with parallel events organized at UNRWA schools in Gaza. The main event will include a ceremony for retired and best-performing teachers. The celebration will be attended by the director of UNRWA operations in Gaza, the deputy director of the Gaza field office, the chief of education, and field office education staff. The event will take place 4 October 2012.

Jordan

The Jordan field office will celebrate World Teachers’ Day by awarding best-performing teachers at the Amman Training Centre. It will be attended by UNESCO Amman Office representatives and a UNESCO representative will deliver the keynote speech. The event will be held on 8 October 2012 at 10 a.m.

Lebanon

World Teachers’ Day will be celebrated in the Central Lebanon Area at the Haifa School. The celebration will include an awards ceremony for retired teachers and recognise students who have won poetry and drawing prizes. The celebration will be attended by Ann Dismorr, the director of UNRWA operations in Lebanon, education specialists, retired teachers, parents, and representatives from the UN, the European Union, and non-governmental organisations. The event will be held on 4 October 2012 at 10 a.m.

Syria

World Teachers’ Day will be celebrated in the Yarmouk refugee camp on 8 October 2012 at 10 a.m.

West Bank

World Teachers’ Day will be celebrated at the Kalandia Training Centre on 8 October 2012 at 10 a.m.

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Background information

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. Financial support to UNRWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting UNRWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. In 2012, the initial budgeted GF cash deficit was USD 75 million.

For more information please contact:

Christopher Gunness
UNRWA Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 240 2659
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0267
c.gunness@unrwa.org

Sami Mshasha
UNRWA Arabic Spokesperson
Mobile: +972 (0)54 216 8295
Office: +972 (0)2 589 0724
s.mshasha@unrwa.org