The Palestinian education system

Thursday, 29 September 2011 09:17

Since its establishment, the Palestinian government has been working steadily to improve the education-related infrastructure, teacher training, the standardization of curricula and the development of a comprehensive education system. Three ministries are responsible: The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Higher Education (Higher Education) and the Ministry of Labour. In addition, there is a center for the development of the curriculum. Also in the Palestinian Legislative Council, a committee was established, which deals inter alia with the relevant legislation. Since the Intifada because of the virtually forced school and university closures by the Israeli army, the entire education system has collapsed, has created many private initiatives and NGOs, that is, to be used today to improve the Palestinian education system.

The school system

In Palestine there is compulsory schooling for children between 6 and 15 Age. Unlike Germany, where a three-track school system was established there in Palestine until the tenth grade, a common school education. The grade point average will then decide whether the young people reach secondary school, where they will be out within two years to high school (Tawjihi). In addition to the general, so-called "academic" high school, which can be stored in the scientific literature or scientific field, there exists the possibility of a technical diploma in commercial, industrial, agricultural, or make the medical care sector. Anyone familiar with the "academic high school," concludes, must enroll in universities, the University student eligible to study at a college. Since 1994/95, the final exams of the relevant Palestinian authorities will be removed.
The school year begins in late August or early September and ends in late May the following year. Accordingly includes the school year 210-215 school days (one day off a week) or 175-180 days of school (with two days off).
chools side 1474 state schools exist 147 private schools, mostly with church organizations, and 253 UNRWA-S.

Vocational training


For a long time there were no comparable system to the German courses for graduates of tenth grade. Skilled trades learned by the young people usually working in a relevant profession. The importance of both practical and theory-based training has been recognized by the Palestinian government and quickly implemented in programs. There were two-year courses for the training of skilled workers, 5 - set 8-month courses for the training of "semi-skilled workers."

The Higher Education

The higher education sector is well developed. Many universities that offer both bachelor's and master's programs originated in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. After four or five years (for engineering students), students receive their bachelor's, master degree requires two years of additional study. At colleges, so-called "community colleges", and the Polytechnikon students receive a more practice-oriented education, which is completed after two years with a diploma.


© 2011 Embassy of the State of Palestine