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UNESCO and Japan Sign a New Partnership Agreement for the Development of Teachers and Students’ Skills in STEAM and Coding

On 16 February 2022 the Government of Japan and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO signed an Arrangement Letter at the Representative Office of Japan to Palestine based in Ramallah the State of Palestine to support a UNESCOled project on Improving Student Skills for Innovation and Sustainable Development through STEAM Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics and Coding in Palestinian Schools The project is aligned with the priorities of the Governments National Policy Agenda for the State of Palestine and the priorities of the Ministry of Education to provide quality education for all UNESCO believes that STEAM and coding have a powerful role to play in helping students achieve their highest potential and talents because they integrate core contents to enhance students understanding of the material It will build on the successful results of the CapED project on Artificial Intelligence and Coding through which 500 students were reached in both West Bank and Gaza during 2021 The overall objective of the new project supported by Japan is to further empower teachers and students especially girls with skills for innovation and sustainable development through STEAM and coding in primary and secondary education In addition it is envisaged to increase the number of coding clubs in public schools in Palestine In her remarks Ms Noha Bawazir UNESCO Head of Office and UNESCO Representative while expressing deep gratitude to the Government of Japan for the new significant contribution stated With COVID19 introducing a new set of challenges to the educational system across the world and to the Palestinian schools in particular it is anticipated that this project will provide an opportunity to improve the educational process in Palestine through proven means of equipping Palestinian youth with digital soft and technical skills demanded by the labour market For his remarks Mr MAGOSHI Masayuki Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs Representative of Japan to Palestine stated We are impressed by the high literacy rate in Palestine that paints a positive picture of its education system However we believe the Palestinian education system is still in the middle of the path to promote innovation for the younger generation To clear the way for this end Japan has committed to providing a new package of assistance through UNESCO to help Palestinian youth excel skills for innovation and sustainable development as well as expand and promote digital learning UNESCO is the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in education sciences and culture UNESCOs programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in the 2030 Agenda adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015 As a member of the United Nations Country Team UNCT in Palestine UNESCO contributes to the overall efforts of the UN system to ensure that its work is aligned with the Palestinian Authoritys National Policy Agenda Since the Oslo Accords Japan has been committed to assisting the Palestinians with a view to creating a favorable environment for the achievement of peace in the Middle East and has so far provided assistance that exceeds 21 billion US dollars since 1993 Japan has continued support for the Palestinians right of selfdetermination and their desire to establish a state Japan has been working to mitigate the hardships and difficulties faced by the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and to support their economic development Japan is also determined to contribute to the capacity and institution building that is required to build a viable Palestinian state

February 16, 2022

Teachers’ training on educational design, technical skills, and best practice guidelines.

Ramallah November 4 Within the framework of the project Developing Digital skills and Education for Sustainable Development through Distance Learning in Palestine funded by Japan UNESCO Ramallah and the Ministry of Education launched training to produce educational videos for the Palestinian Educational TV channel The training on educational design technical skills and best practice guidelines took place at AlQuds Open University in Ramallah Hebron and Nablus from 27 October to 20 November 2021 The training targeted 75 key teachers over 30 training hours UNESCO Ramallahs Education Unit supports the Ministry of Education in achieving its distance learning goals by developing and enhancing the Educational TV channel through the provision of equipment as well as building capacities of educational supervisors teachers and TV staff to improve their digital and 21stcentury skills Bassam Tahboob Director of Education Directorate in Hebron emphasized This is an essential training as it will allow teachers to incorporate technology when developing educational lessons which will be broadcasted on the Educational TV channel

February 16, 2022

International Day of Education 2022

Education is a human right a public good and a public responsibility In Palestine educational achievement at all levels continues to be affected by the political situation and resulting conflict While Palestine has one of the highest enrollment rates in the region for students in elementary education substantial challenges to access education remain especially for students from vulnerable groups and communities COVID19 has also deeply affected education for children with no access to digital learning opportunities This divide is often present in remote and disadvantaged areas in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip Many students lack internet access devices and adequate digital literacy Less than half of households with children between the ages of 1017 who are currently enrolled in schools have the desktop laptop or tablet they need for remote learning Prolonged and intermittent school closures have also resulted in learning loss only 37 of students attended educational classes during school closure and only an average of 64 of the curricula was covered during 20202021 The 11day escalation of IsraeliPalestinian hostilities in May 2021 aggravated existing vulnerabilities and affected childrens wellbeing and protection The damage to 136 schools run by the Palestinian Authority affected 121092 children worsening an existing shortage of classrooms in Gaza Sixtyfive percent of schools in Gaza operate on double or triple shifts shortening the school day sometimes to only 4 hours Message from the Director General of UNESCO In these exceptional times business as usual is no longer an option If we are to transform the future if we are to change course we must rethink education This means forging a new social contract for education as called for by the UNESCO report on the Futures of Education released last November We need to repair past injustices and orient the digital transformation around inclusion and equity And we need education to fully contribute to sustainable development for instance by integrating environmental education in all curricula and by training teachers in this field Message from Ms Audrey Azoulay Director General of UNESCO on the occasion of International Day of Education 2022 On this International Day for Education I invite all stakeholders to reflect on how to strengthen education including the digital transformation as a public endeavor for the common good in and for Palestine Lynn Hastings United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory from a statement on the International Day for Education 2022 2022 Celebrations On 24 January the day will be celebrated through a platform to showcase the most important transformations that have to be nurtured to realize everyones fundamental right to education and build a more sustainable inclusive and peaceful future It will generate debate around how to strengthen education as a public endeavor and common good how to steer the digital transformation support teachers safeguard the planet and unlock the potential in every person to contribute to collective wellbeing and our shared home In February UNESCO Ramallah will organize a webinar under the theme TVET and Digital Education Students and educators will discuss innovations digital skills and transversal competencies to make education more fit for the future and satisfy market needs

January 24, 2022

Agreement signed between Italy, UNESCO and Palestine

The Conservation and management of Tell EsSultan ancient Jericho Agreement signed between Italy UNESCO and Palestine Ramallah 24 January 2022 The Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem UNESCO Ramallah Office the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities MoTA and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation AICS Jerusalem celebrated the signing of the agreement between Italy and UNESCO to enable the implementation of the project The Conservation and management of Tell EsSultan Ancient Jericho This agreement is part of a larger multistakeholder partnership through which a collaboration is established between the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities UNESCO the Sapienza University of Rome and the Italian Agency of Development Cooperation Jerusalem Office The project aims to ensure the effective conservation and management of the cultural resources within the area and to promote sustainable tourism development that benefits the site and the local communities Through the generous funding of Italy amounting at Euros 24 million the project partners shall leverage their respective expertise to implement the designated project interventions under the overall supervision of a steering committee chaired by MoTA

January 24, 2022

From the Palestinian Bearers of Heritage to the UNESCO’s Representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003 Convention was adopted in 2003 entered into force in 2006 and at present December 2021 180 States ratified it The main goals of this Convention are to find new ways to speak about safeguard to valorize to facilitate transmission and to deal with traditional culture to celebrate cultural diversity and to involve more actors like communities and groups In 2011 Palestine was admitted to the UNESCO as a Member State since that time Palestine has become a party to several UNESCO treaties and cultural conventions The Palestinian community and institutions have realized the role played by intangible cultural heritage in the social cultural and economic aspects of life but also the dangers threatening its viability and continuity identity and belonging which made Palestinians aware of the need to fill the gap that exists between the threats they are facing and the possibilities offered by UNESCO treaties and international cooperation instruments in this respect On 15 December 2021 and during the 16th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held virtually from UNESCO Headquarters in Paris the art of embroidery in Palestine practices skills knowledge and rituals has been added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity Prior to 1948 embroidery was an important focus in the lives of rural and Bedouins women Its main canvas was the thoub which was worn both daily and on special occasions However Palestinian embroidery is more than just a practical decoration of work of clothes or pieces It is a connection between stiches and public sphere The people of Palestine and in diaspora highly welcomed the inclusion of the art of embroidery as it is considered as a symbol of Palestinian history evolution and identity alike During the same meeting on Tuesday 14 December a shared nomination was put forward by a coalition of 16 Arabicspeaking countries and upon a positive recommendation from the Evaluation Body the Arabic Calligraphy knowledge Skills and practices has been also inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Humanity Arabic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting Arabic script in a fluid manner to convey harmony grace and beauty States parties should develop together networks of communities experts centres of expertise and research institutes to develop joint approaches particularly concerning the elements of intangible cultural heritage they have in common as well as interdisciplinary approaches ODs p86 For Palestine this inscription is considered as a major step towards collaboration and cooperation with other Arab States and respective culture for the calligraphy to be a driver for peace and cultural diplomacy Intangible cultural heritage ICH made up of all manifestations of culture represents the variety of living heritage of humanity as well as the most important vehicle of cultural diversity The ICH is represented by the bearers of heritage within the communities and is considered crucial for the connection of cultural identity Its viability is a response to the historical and evolution of the communities and groups concerned Therefore it is important to safeguard and preserve ICH by constant practicing as a living heritage and using modern technological tools In this context it is mandatory to preserve the endangered traditions such as traditional knowhow indigenous knowledge popular rituals carried out to bring prosperity and socioeconomic sustainable development for Palestine

December 17, 2021

Inclusive Education Training for Education Supervisors and Inclusive Education Counselors

Ramallah October 12 Under its project MultiYear Resilience Programme for The State of Palestine 20192021 funded by Education Cannot Wait UNESCO and the Ministry of Education launched a two day training on inclusive education The Center for Continuing Education at Birzeit University implemented the workshop in which 60 special education supervisors and inclusive education counselors from 11 governorates in the West Bank attended the training The workshop is a part of series of inclusive education trainings for teachers educational counselors and schools principles to provide them with the practical skills and knowledge to implement quality childfriendly and inclusive education Nida Al Adra Inclusive Education Counselor from South Hebrons Education Directorate This is an opportunity to share experiences related to inclusive education among counselors and supervisors I will be happy to reflect what I have learned during the training to ensure the implementation of inclusive education practices in schools in my area

October 22, 2021

Educational supervisor training

Ramallah October 18 Within the framework of the project Developing Digital skills and Education for Sustainable Development through Distance Learning in Palestine funded by Japan UNESCO Ramallah and the Ministry of Education launched training to produce educational videos for the Palestine Educational TV Channel The training on educational design technical skills and best practice guidelines took place at AlQuds Open University in Ramallah starting 1825 October 2021 The training targeted 30 key trainers over 25 training hours It will be followed by the training of 75 teachers in various governorates around the country UNESCO Ramallahs Education Unit supports the Ministry of Education in achieving its distance learning goals by developing and enhancing the Palestine Educational broadcast channel through the provision of devices and equipment as well as building the capacities of educational supervisors teachers and TV staff to improve their digital and 21st century skills Tharwat Zaid Assistant DeputyMinister at the Ministry of Education emphasized It is important to incorporate technology in education and there is a need to break away from the traditional pattern of education to a more interactive and childcentered approach We need to make transition from quantity to quality education to ensure the active participation of students in the learning process

October 22, 2021

UNESCO’s Celebration for The International Youth Day 2021

UNESCO Ramallah Office organized an event in Battir a Palestinian village southwest of Jerusalem which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site to celebrate the 2021 International Youth Day IYD The event was held on 27th of July under this years theme Transforming Food Systems Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health aiming at engaging the youth in protecting traditional agriculture and promoting a sustainable food culture in Palestine The event was developed within the framework of promoting Palestinian Intangible Cultural Heritage ICH to raise awareness on the close relationship between food and agriculture as well as the Palestinian intangible cultural heritage and the role that youth can play in transmitting this important part of their national identity Palestinian food and agriculture are based on principles of nutrition connection with the land and quality that can are reproduced and passed on from generation to generation With this spirit in mind the UNESCO Ramallah Office has endorsed this event so as to empower youth to advocate and be guardians of their own cultural heritage Thirty young volunteers sixteen females and fourteen males between the age of 17 and 29 from the West Bank and East Jerusalem participated in the event by harvesting the local fruits and vegetables and learned about the agricultural heritage of the region Participating volunteers included beneficiaries of the FAO Green jobs and Sustainable Income Opportunities for Palestinian Youth in the Agrifood Sector programme YPeers the UN Thematic Group on Youth and young people from Battir At the beginning of the event all the participants were welcomed by Ms Noha Bawazir UNESCOs Head of Office then briefed by UNESCOs colleagues about Battir as a World Heritage site and the unique water distribution system currently used by the Battir families This specific type of irrigation is a legacy of an ancient equal distribution system that delivers water to the terraces based on a simple mathematical calculation and a clear timemanaged rotation scheme called Almadoud Following the briefing the volunteers had the chance to meet with the local farmers and learn directly from them about the way of harvesting different types of local vegetables including the famous Battiri eggplants which is picked in the summer season The visit continued to the Ottomanera Hijaz railway track and finally with a traditional Palestinian lunch when they also met with the Battiri women who prepared the food The event was an extraordinary opportunity for the young volunteers to get to know important elements of their heritage that often go unnoticed The youth needs to be empowered to collectively and individually make efforts to restore the environment and protect life and biodiversity while also promoting a sustainable food culture among their communities The IYD is an opportunity to highlight the fact that for new results to be achieved the youth should be properly informed and included as main stakeholders in such discussions Young people hold a crucial role in working towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and related frameworks and need to be given the right tools to succeed UNESCO Ramallah Office also produced a video for the IYD to promote the event in Battir The video wants to highlight that while young people are encouraged to innovate food systems the preservation of what remains of the traditional practices is an essential learning tool Click here to watch the video

August 12, 2021

Awareness-Raising Campaign on Healthy Lifestyle and Against Discrimination

AwarenessRaising Campaign on Healthy Lifestyle and Against Discrimination Supporting the Ministry of Education in implementing its National Response Plan for COVID19 in Palestine

Developing a Conservation and Management Plan for Sebastia

During the first half of 2021 UNESCO continued overseeing the different activities implemented in the framework of the Local Development through the Rehabilitation and Revitalization of Historic Environment in Palestine project generously funded by Sweden Through this project 75 historic building and urban spaces have been rehabilitated and utilized for the welfare of the local communities they exist in Through which UNESCO and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in cooperation with the Municipality of Sebastia developed a Conservation and Management Plan for Sebastia a site on the Tentative List of Palestine for Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites with potential OUV The village of Sebastia is one of the important Palestinian archaeological sites and a oncevibrant Roman city with a wealth of monumental remains Read more about the overall project and its scope

UNESCO Develops a Detailed Urban Plan aiming at Protecting the Agricultural Terraces in Battir

In close coordination with partners UNESCO invests efforts towards the enhancement and revitalization of the three inscribed World Heritage Sites in Palestine Birthplace of Jesus Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route Bethlehem 2012 Palestine Land of Olives and Vines Cultural Landscape of Southern Jerusalem Battir 2014 and HebronAlKhalil Old Town 2017 Particularly UNESCO designs and implements projects and activities that respond to the numerous challenges emerging in these sites contributing to their proper conservation and management while sustaining their Outstanding Universal Values OUV In May 2021 UNESCO initiated a comprehensive project entitled Detailed Urban Plan and building by laws in Battir and Hussan to develop a conservation and urban plan for parts of the core and buffer zones of the site in Battir This initiative is implemented through a structured partnership with the concerned national stakeholders mandated to oversee cultural heritage sites in Palestine namely the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities MoTA The activity comes as a response to recognizing the need of protecting the agricultural terraces in Battir which is also highlighted in the sites conservation and management plan aiming to ensure that any developments in the site will not have an adverse impact on its OUV

Psychosocial Support in Schools with Sports and Drama

During AprilMay 2021 UNESCO Ramallah Office in close cooperation with the Ministry of Education MoE conducted psychosocial support activities using sports and drama in 20 marginalized schools in the Area C and East Jerusalem The activities were implemented by UNESCOs partners YES Theatre and PS4L trainers Since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 UNESCO with the financial support from the Education Cannot Wait is supporting the MoE in the implementation of its National Response Plan for COVID19 The plan indicated that the psychosocial support was one of the priorities to mitigate the physical and psychological impact of the prolonged lockdowns on students Consequently the psychosocial support activities that have benefitted 1557 girls and boys aged 12 to 16 provided the space often missing in marginalized schools for the students to play and interact with each other The project taught students how to develop life skills such as teamwork healthy lifestyles effective communication perseverance and planning while also promoting tolerance and values of respect empathy and fairness A student said I enjoyed the day It was fun and enjoyable for us We learned about respect and love I also liked discussions in the end of games that connected the game to our life These kind of psychosocial activities are usually powerful means to support mental health wellbeing enhance cognitive development encourage positive attitudes and behaviors as well as promote physical fitness of students while in lockdown as well as in school During the event he students had the opportunity to express their frustrations and release the stress caused by the pandemic through performing theatrical sketches and playing different team sports It also gave the chance to the students especially the girls to voice their opinions on life matters which they rarely get to do We learned to persevere to fulfill our dreams not to lose hope to be optimistic about life and to think about better future no matter how difficult life circumstances are Trauma sensitive and responsive sport and art related programs can be powerful tools in helping communities especially children to connect and heal Therefore building on the positive impact that this project had on the students and to ensure the sustainability of the activities UNESCO Ramallah will organize 100 summer camps between July and August 2021 in the West Bank and will continue with school activities to counter learning loss in both the West Bank and Gaza

Launch of E-Learning Training on Skills Needs Anticipation and Matching

On 2 June 2021 the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization ITCILO and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO launched the online capacity development for skills anticipation and matching under the European Union EU funded Youth Employment in Mediterranean YEM project The UNESCO National Office in Palestine targeted 34 participants of governmental organizations and key partners to take online courses The participants include the Ministry of Education Ministry of Higher Education Ministry of Labour Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics PCBS and Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute MAS In this fastpaced world technological and labour market changes profoundly affect Technical and Vocational Education and Training TVET and skills development Skills needs anticipation digital skills elearning tools and innovative training methodologies are on the top of national policy agendas To stay updated on the latest developments the innovative online training courses have been designed to meet the needs of key stakeholders such as policymakers in the labour market and skills development systems The main objective of this course is to help participants understand the central importance of identifying current and future skill needs and labour market imbalances in a broader policy framework This innovative elearning course has been designed according to a learnercentered approach It is highly interactive and engaging and implemented over seven weeks Since 2015 UNESCO has been supporting Palestine on skills forecasting through the YEM project and will continue and further expand this work through a newlyestablished partnership with Enabel This level of collaboration between the two agencies ILO and UNESCO in the occupied Palestinian Territories responds to the Labour Sector Strategy and newly established National Employment Strategy for Palestine which is wellaligned with the UNESCOs TVET Strategy and ILOs Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work As such UNESCO and ILO stressed on the importance of focusing on people a humancentered recovery for building back better by prioritizing employment skills building and development income and social protection workers rights and social dialogue If a lasting sustainable and inclusive recovery for Palestinians is sought this is the path that all partners must commit to Accordingly the ILO and UNESCO are committed to supporting the implementation of the strategies and investing in the Palestinian institutions and the future of the Palestinian economy