The Ministry of Education has reiterated its rejection of accusations made by an American non-governmental organization that Palestinian scholastic curricula “do not teach the notions of peace and coexistence with Israel” and at the same time work to “plant the seeds of hate” in upcoming Palestinian generations.

The American organization recently published a study about Palestinian curricula for the scholastic years 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, concentrating on 60 schoolbooks and two teacher manuals and criticizing them harshly.

Salah Yasin, general director of the Curriculum Center at the ministry, spoke on behalf of the ministry, rejecting the accusations. He said he considered the study part of “a campaign directed against Palestinian curricula that began with another study conducted by the same organization, which is affiliated with an extremist Zionist party wishing only to serve the interests of the Hebrew state.”

Yasin indicated that the objective of the new study and similar ones is no more than serving the Israeli desire to elude its obligations spelled out in signed agreements, especially political ones. He explained that Palestinian curricula were examined by international parties and local analysts and were declared fit and in no way designed to lead to any political gains. Yasin rejected the accusation that the curricula lack the notion of rapprochement, which is counterfactual, as attested to by UNESCO, which reviewed the curricula.

As for the accusation that the curricula lack indications of peaceful coexistence Yasin said, “We cannot discuss peace with the Israelis when they continue to occupy our land and our students go to school in the shadow of Israeli tanks. Discussing peace in light of the Israeli attacks is a form of cheating. We are entitled to teach our children their history and heritage. Palestine has historical borders known to the world, and all cities with Israeli names are in fact Palestinian. Palestinian books, according to the testimony of several local and international organizations, are legitimate.”

Another ministry official agreed with Yasin, explaining that the teaching contained within Palestinian curricula is acceptable and designed to prepare Palestinian students for the future, especially the process of establishing the Palestinian state. He added that “the curricula try to posit the Palestinian individual on the threshold of the coming period within a look that includes relations with the rest of the world.”

The official assured that the curricula do not violate international doctrine connected with the Palestinian struggle, adding that several researchers that examined the curricula have approved them. He concluded by saying that the Belgian Government’s commitment to supporting the development of Palestinian curricula is another indicator of the strength of the Palestinian education system and the high level of trust in it.

(With Thanks to “Imra ” for distributing this article.)
 Article located at www.jerusalem-times.net/article/detail.asp?id=442

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