Item 4.1 of the provisional agenda
IMPLEMENTATION OF 28 C/RESOLUTION 16 CONCERNING
EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
IN THE ARAB TERRITORIES:
REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL
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OUTLINE
Source: 28 C/Resolution 16.
Background: This item has been inscribed on the agenda of the General Conference since its twenty-fifth session. At its twenty-eighth session, the General Conference adopted 28 C/Resolution 16 in which it invited the Director-General inter alia to continue his efforts in favour of the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) projects and with regard to the occupied Syrian Golan and decided to inscribe this item on the agenda of its twentyninth session.
Purpose: The report describes activities undertaken in favour of the Palestinian people and its institutions, activities initiated to develop co-operation between Israelis and Palestinians for the culture of peace, United Nations inter-agency co-operation and those in which UNESCO played a role of facilitator.
Decision required: The present document requires no decision.
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1. In implementation of 28 C/Resolution 16, UNESCO’s programme sectors were mobilized and were present in the field to carry out the different activities foreseen in the regular programme and in the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) through extrabudgetary funding. Both types of activity were conceived in the light of the implementation of the General Conference resolution and decisions of the Executive Board at its 150th and 151st sessions. Apart from the activities undertaken in favour of the Palestinian people and its institutions, other activities were initiated to develop co-operation between Israelis and Palestinians for the culture of peace, United Nations inter-agency co-operation, and activities in which UNESCO played a role of facilitator.
2. Within the framework of the regular programme, 71 scholarships were granted in favour of Palestinian students (24 women, 47 men) in addition to three fellowships offered by Japan, five fellowships awarded to four women and one man by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; whilst from the PEACE Programme six ongoing scholarships were renewed and seven new ones were granted by universities members of this programme (at present 81 members: 70 universities in Europe and North America, eight Palestinian universities, and three collective members). The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) received eight Palestinian candidates full or part time for their training programme. The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) received for a two month’s training programme in Rome two young Palestinian experts with study grants from UNESCO.
3. The translation into French of an anthology of popular Palestinian folk tales is being financed through the regular programme and this anthology will be published in a co-edition with a French publisher and UNESCO.
4. UNESCO continues to support through its regular programme the development of the Palestinian education system by purchasing furniture and equipment, and by providing different types of training in education, culture, science and communication, on a local, regional and international level. UNESCO/UNRWA co-operation in the education programme for Palestinian refugee children and youth continues in UNRWA’s areas of operation (Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, the West Bank and Gaza Strip) as in the last biennium. This programme covers children’s education, teachers’ training and vocational and technical education.
5. Participation Programme requests for 1996-1997 were approved for a total amount of US $314,000. These requests were granted to different Palestinian institutions in the Palestinian Autonomous Territories through the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to UNESCO.
6. UNESCO gave a financial contribution of US $15,000 to the ‘Ministry’ of Higher Education to organize a Conference on Information Technology in Higher Education at the College of Science, Abu Dis on 6 and 7 March 1997.
7. UNESCO provided financial assistance (US $25,000) to An-Najah University to host an international conference on education in the context of an Independent Palestinian State, which was held at An-Najah University, Nablus, from 7 to 9 November 1996. This was the first large international academic gathering to take place in the Palestinian Autonomous Territories. The Conference was sponsored by UNESCO and the European Union.
8. During this biennium, Palestinian universities benefited from three UNESCO Chairs, in archaeology, foreign languages (which guarantee intensive courses for Palestinian students enrolled for studies abroad), and in human rights, democracy and peace.
9. Within the framework of UNESCO’s UNITWIN programme, An-Najah University assumes the co-ordinating functions in establishing a Palestinian programme for the study of the causes and consequences of involuntary migration. This programme is part of an international UNITWIN network initiated by Oxford University for the study of the causes and consequences of the refugee phenomenon, displacement of persons and forced migration.
10. UNESCO has established through its regular programme a new Biotechnology Education and Training Centre (BETCEN) at the University of Bethlehem. Specialized laboratory equipment was provided to this Centre in addition to specialized courses organized for laboratory technicians and researchers in plant tissue culture for the development of ornamental plants and food crops. The Palestinian ‘Ministry’ of Agriculture is a partner in this project.
11. The second phase of the Palestinian Curriculum Development Centre project was started in November 1996 with an extensive campaign of information about the Five-Year Plan which was prepared in the first phase. The draft plan prepared by UNESCO, thanks to the Italian contribution, is currently under study by the Steering Committee of experts set up by the Palestinian ‘Ministry’ of Education to monitor the work achieved and to propose amendments to the plan. When it is finalized, the amended draft plan will be officially presented for adoption by the Palestinian Legislative Council since it is the first time in the history of the Palestinian people that a purely Palestinian curriculum has been developed. The delay in the implementation of this second phase is beyond the control of UNESCO. As a result of this delay, fund-raising to finance the Five-Year Plan had to be postponed.
12. In implementation of the project for capacity-building in educational policy formulation and management in the Palestinian Authority (financed by Italy), several study tours for senior officials from the Palestinian ‘Ministry’ of Education were organized and several training workshops were held in Ramallah and Gaza since January 1996. Training materials were translated into Arabic. As of now, some 900 head teachers have been trained within the framework of this project (650 in the West Bank and 94 in Gaza).
13. Capacity-building in educational planning and budgeting for the Palestinian Authority has been financed by Italy. The Plan of Operations was signed in July 1996 and equipment required by each directorate of the Palestinian ‘Ministry’ of Education was received in July 1997. Two high level seminars were organized in Gaza and Ramallah. Training materials were prepared and translated into Arabic for three national courses which took place between June and August 1997.
14. Implementation of the project to strengthen the ‘Ministry’ of Education of the Palestinian Authority through the use of teaching materials for basic education and the training of teachers started in February 1997. This two-year project, also financed by Italy, aims at strengthening the ‘Ministry’ of Education with a view to improving the quality of education through the more intensive use of teaching materials.
15. A project on the elaboration of a strategy for rationalizing the development of higher education, financed by Norway, was signed in February 1997 and is currently under implementation. Equipment has been sent and training workshops organized for the accreditation unit in the ‘Ministry’ of Higher Education. The legal aspects foreseen in the Plan of Operations will be implemented before the end of 1997. The physical learning environment project, also financed by Norway, is under implementation since May 1997.
16. The rehabilitation of schools project, financed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aims at the repair, maintenance and provision of furniture and teaching materials to 14 schools in the Gaza Strip and three schools in the West Bank for an amount of US $2.5 million and benefits some 14,000 students. The rehabilitation of all the 17 schools was completed before the deadline stipulated in the Plan of Operations. Furniture was delivered and old furniture recycled and distributed to other schools. Teaching materials (books, computers and printers, basic instruments, science and sports equipment) were purchased and distributed to all the 17 schools. Thanks to the efficient management of the project, a saving of some US $240,000 was achieved and these funds were used to rehabilitate a secondary girls school in Bethlehem and the directorate of education in south Hebron. A further list of schools to be rehabilitated for an amount of another US $2.5 million donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is being identified.
17. The kindergarten project, financed by Daimler-Benz, the State Ministry of Baden-Wurttemberg and UNESCO became operational in the beginning of 1996. The kindergarten can now accommodate 50 children. The Palestinian ‘Ministry’ of Education supervises the administration of the kindergarten and covers the employees salaries. It is planning to focus on the training role of the kindergarten which is the core feature of this project. Priority is given to children from socially disadvantaged families.
18. UNESCO is also helping the ‘Right to Live Society’ for Downs syndrome children founded in Gaza in 1993 by Palestinian women, who created a special centre for children suffering from this disease. According to statistics, there are about 1,000 Downs syndrome children in Gaza and actually about 40 of them benefit from this programme. Three hundred children are on the waiting list for the centre. Mrs Ohoven, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO, raised funds for the centre and now UNESCO is studying with her and her ‘Children in Need’ foundation to enlarge the centre and to initiate new pedagogical and therapeutic activities adapted to these children’s needs.
19. In science, a project document entitled ‘Capacity-building and training in environmental planning and management: water resources management centre’ has been finalized and approved by the Palestinian Water Resources Authority and the Flemish authorities. The Flemish authorities have expressed their desire to sign the Plan of Operations (estimated budget US $551,000) during the twenty-ninth session of the General Conference.
20. In the field of culture, Bethlehem 2000 is UNESCO’s major activity since the launching of the project by the Director-General on 21 April 1996 during the inauguration in Bethlehem itself of the Bethlehem 2000 roving photographic exhibition. The exhibition was on display in Nazareth and Haifa in Israel before it was inaugurated in Rome, Italy on 19 December 1996 by the Director-General in the presence of the President of the Italian Republic, the President of the Palestinian Authority, the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and the Mayor of Rome. The Acadamia Santa Cecilia dedicated its annual peace concert to Bethlehem which followed immediately after the inauguration. The exhibition was hosted in Florence and Verona before coming to Paris where it was inaugurated on 9 June 1997 by the Director-General at the Pavillon de l’Arsenal in the presence of Mrs Arafat, the Palestinian ‘Minister’ of Culture, the President of the Pavillon de l’Arsenal, Permanent Delegates to UNESCO, Members of the Executive Board and cultural personalities. It is foreseen that the exhibition will be hosted by the British Museum in London at the end of November 1997.
21. In implementation of UNESCO-PAPP’s Bethlehem 2000 project, an Emergency Action Plan for Bethlehem and its district, financed by Italy, was prepared and officially given to the Palestinian Authority for comments and amendments in the beginning of July 1997. In August a copy of the plan was given to the Italian Government for its comments. Once finalized, this document will be distributed to potential donors with a view to organizing a donors conference before the end of the year for raising financial support for the 80 projects with an estimated budget of US $140 million. UNESCO is studying with the Palestinian Authority and the World Bank how and where to organize the Bethlehem Conference.
22. The project regarding the restoration of the mosaics of Hisham Palace in Jericho, financed by Italy, is ongoing. A programme of archaeological training and site management, financed by Norway, will be implemented as soon as the situation permits.
23. An international Conference on music was organized last March in Birzeit University in which Palestinian and international experts gathered to formulate a series of recommendations for a future Palestinian music policy to stimulate musical education, training and production and to help develop international co-operation in this field.
24. The University of Tourism and Culture for Peace, sponsored by UNESCO, was officially inaugurated in Marseilles on 17 February 1997. This University of distant learning has students in tourism and culture for peace in the Universities of Casablanca, Marseilles, Nice, Bersheva and Bethlehem. During the next biennium other universities will join this programme.
25. In communication, a Plan of Operations was signed in January 1997 for the project on the modernization of the Palestinian information agency WAFA (financed by Italy for US $1.5 million). The delay in the implementation of this project is linked to the late arrival of funds.
26. During this biennium, UNESCO participated in the Consultative Group composed of donors, the Palestinian Authority, World Bank and United Nations agencies and programmes, which was held on 19 and 20 November 1996 in Paris. UNESCO-PAPP projects were integrated into the United Nations document for this meeting entitled ‘Putting Peace to Work’. UNESCO also participated in the 3rd and 4th annual United Nations inter-agency meetings organized by UNESCO in Gaza from 15 to 17 April 1996 and 2-3 July 1997 respectively.
27. UNESCO played the role of facilitator in other projects within the framework of peace building, humanitarian activities and culture for peace:
28. On 11 and 12 July 1996, the third meeting of the joint UNESCO/Palestinian Coordinating Committee took place at UNESCO's Headquarters. During this meeting the joint Committee discussed and evaluated the PAPP projects and decided to concentrate the activities of this extrabudgetary programme to a limited number of projects in particular on basic education, support for the PEACE programme, Bethlehem 2000, an archaeological and natural park in Jericho, restoration of monuments in Gaza, museums, festivals and youth.
29. Palestinian educational and cultural institutions in Hebron and Jerusalem, which were closed under Israeli orders, were reopened immediately after the 17 January 1997 Hebron agreement between the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority.
30. The problem of free access and circulation of Palestinian students from Gaza in order to join their universities in the West Bank is still unresolved and is becoming more dramatic after the terrible bombing on 30 July in the market in Jerusalem, which UNESCO severely condemned.
31. Similarly, decisions of the Executive Board, reiterated by the resolution of the last General Conference, regarding the occupied Syrian Golan, remain unimplemented because of the occupation.
32. During his official visit to the Palestinian Autonomous Territories on 24 and 25 May 1997, the Director-General signed two documents with President Arafat on 24 May in Gaza. The first one concerned the second phase of the Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (1997/1999) entitled ‘Development for Peace’, which is composed of 12 new project proposals recommended by the joint UNESCO/Palestinian Authority Co-ordination Committee at its last annual meeting. The second document concerned an agreement between UNESCO and the PLO on the establishment of a UNESCO Liaison Office in Ramallah. This Office was officially inaugurated by the Director-General on 25 May 1997 in the presence of the Palestinian ‘Minister’ of Education, and other Palestinian officials.
33. Preliminary meetings took place in Paris, then in Jerusalem, to prepare the Colloquium-Programme Granada II. The aim of this initiative is to accompany the peace process by the establishment of a sustaining and substantial dialogue amongst those who support the peace process (academics, intellectuals, economists, scientists, etc.) in the fields of competence of UNESCO. During its plenary session, the Colloquium will set up three working groups (education, science, and culture), each with its own theme headed by a moderator, who will meet over a period of two years culminating in the bimillenary celebrations in 1999. On 20 July, a preparatory meeting between about 12 Israeli and 12 Palestinian academics took place in Jerusalem for an exchange of views, to make proposals and to designate coorganizers. Granada II will be launched at a meeting to be held in Oslo, whose date will be determined in accordance with the evolution of the present situation.
Item 4.1 of the agenda
IMPLEMENTATION OF 28 C/RESOLUTION 16 CONCERNING
EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
IN THE OCCUPIED ARAB TERRITORIES
ADDENDUM
At its 152nd session, the Executive Board adopted decision 10.2, whereby it decided to include this item on the agenda of its 155th session and recommended that the General Conference adopt its decision as follows:
Item 4.1 of the provisional agenda
IMPLEMENTATION OF 28 C/RESOLUTION 16 CONCERNING EDUCATIONAL
AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE ARAB TERRITORIES
CORRIGENDUM
Replace the 'Outline' on the cover page of the document by the following text:
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Document Type: Addendum, Corrigendum, Decision, Report
Document Sources: United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Subject: Education and culture
Publication Date: 10/09/1997