Palestinian association says 15,000 Palestinian children annually denied education in East Jerusalem
Palestine, Education, 9/5/2000

The Palestinian Human rights Monitor said in the latest edition of its report an average of 15,000 Palestinian pupils are prevented every year from attending school in East Al-Quds (Jerusalem), due to the severe shortage in classroom and to the unawareness among parents of the right to free education.

The Geneva-based International Observatory for Palestinian Affairs (IOPA) said in an e-mail sent to MAP the report, dealing with the appalling situation of the education system in East Jerusalem, and existing discrepancies in the implementation of the right to education in both parts of the city, came in response to a statement by Mayor of Jerusalem Ehud Olmert, last July, that the association's assertions of discrimination in the education system for Arab pupils in East Jerusalem were nonsense

The report was compiled on the basis of inquiries conducted by researcher Evan S. Weiss who collected extensive data and conducted numerous interviews and on-site visits.

It reveals that indeed the supply of school facilities in East Jerusalem is blatantly inadequate and substandard. Existing classrooms are overcrowded, and bomb shelters and even science laboratories are used as regular classrooms, limiting the facilities otherwise available to pupils. Schools also rent out apartments and homes, spaces that are obviously not suited for educational purposes. Both the facilities - libraries, computer laboratories, facilities for the arts and physical education - and the equipment are lacking. Furthermore, without proper ventilation, lighting and visual aids, the atmosphere in most classrooms in unsuitable for education, and sanitary conditions are poor.

The association recalls that Arab citizens of Jerusalem contribute 26% of municipal revenues, and benefit from only 5% of municipal services.

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