Number of participants 46 Percentage of women that attended 22 out of 46 (47.
8%) Percentage of women that spoke-up 5 out of 11 (45.
5%) Key Speakers
Mr.
Ismail Al Jmasi, Director of the Education Directorate, Gaza North Governorate.
Summary of issues raised by the public The Gaza North Governorate still needs additional school buildings.
Classes are still crowded and work on the shifting basis.
There should be better contacts with political factions and parents to stop irregular work hours.
The Directorate should develop plans to strengthen schools relationships with parents and the local community.
The lack of textbooks lasted for a long period of time.
The Ministry should plan to end this situation and avoid it in the future.
Residents of the Bedouin Village request that the Directorate approve founding a new school for girls in the village as they walk long distances to school.
Numerous girls quit school for this reason.
The Ministry is requested to review the new curriculum and its policy of employing supervisors and educational consultants.
They should guarantee transparency.
Summary of answers given by the guest speakers The current Israeli violence in the OPTs affected the educational process badly.
However, the Ministry of Education made enormous efforts to keep the process functioning.
Statistics show that the process is, materially at least, going on.
There have been developments in school buildings and staff training.
Technically, the Ministry is implementing a work plan to develop curriculum, supervision and to absorb all new pupils.
The Gaza North Directorate runs sixty schools which have recently become well equipped and rehabilitated to cope with the increasing needs.
The most difficult challenges facing the Directorate are the lack of security, irregular work hours at schools and restricting textbooks from the West Bank to Gaza by Israel.
Planned and undertaken follow-up of issues raised:
As planned before the meeting, the center contacted the Ministry of Education and informed them with the results of the meeting and what people think of their performance.
Letters were issued to both the Ministry and the Directorate including the public's comments and requests.
In addition, the center dissiminated the results through local media, including newspapers and TV.
More steps are to be taken to follow up the results.
Actual improvements achieved, if any:
The Bedouin Village request is being considered by the Directorate and followed up by the center.
The Directorate is to hold talks with the political factions to develop ways to protect schools.
The comments on the curriculum, transparency and new buildings.
Summary of evaluation forms of participants and speakers:
The overall evaluation of the meeting is positive.
Participants think that the theme is very important.
There comments on the management and timing are positive.
They also believe that the guest's performance and the results are good.