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Qatar helps fill the education gaps for conflict-affected Palestine refugee children in Syria

04 September 2015

Educate A Child (EAC) is a global initiative launched by Qatar’s Education Above All Foundation. The programme aims to significantly reduce the number of children worldwide who are denied their right to education. Since December 2013, UNRWA and EAC have worked together to find innovative ways to bring education to all Palestine refugee children affected by the conflict in Syria.

EAC generously contributed US$ 4.9 million in 2013. This support has helped establish safe learning spaces, enabled children to return to school, provided psychosocial support for students, and offered self-learning materials and support lessons both online and through UNRWA TV to students who cannot access classrooms.

Funding from EAC has contributed to the Agency’s overall mission to address the educational and psychosocial needs of Palestine refugee children from Syria. Within Syria, the Agency focuses on fostering student and teacher well-being and ensuring that children remain connected to education regardless of their circumstances. 

Of the 118 UNRWA school buildings across Syria, more than half are no longer operational due to destruction, lack of access or repurpose as temporary collective shelters. With only 48 schools remaining open, UNRWA is operating another 47 schools in alternative facilities to accommodate all UNRWA students. Al-Aqsa/Beit Jalah School, Husseiniyeh. © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadThirteen UNRWA schools have been converted into collective centres to host Palestine refugees displaced as a result of the conflict. More than 12,000 Palestine refugees are living in these overcrowded shelters. © 2014 UNRWA PhotoUNRWA schools that are still operational run double and triple shifts for students in grades one through nine in order to accommodate all UNRWA students. Teaching hours have been adjusted with shifts running between 6.45 a.m. and 4.50 p.m. © 2014 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadMany displaced Palestine refugee students are coping with the trauma of repeated displacement, impoverishment and exposure to armed violence. With the support of EAC, UNRWA has trained 55 psychosocial counsellors in Syria to help children adjust to uncertain and sometimes frightening circumstances. © 2014 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadCatching up on missed schooling can be daunting for students. UNRWA is committed to finding alternative learning methods for Palestine refugee students who are unable to access a schoolroom or need to catch up on their schoolwork. Eight safe learning spaces have been established so far in temporary collective shelters in Damascus, which target roughly 5,500 displaced students. Jaramana collective shelter. © 2014 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadDuring the summer of 2014, the support of EAC enabled UNRWA to provide 13,261 children with psychosocial support, catch-up classes, tutoring and recreational activities in 63 summer learning centres. © 2014 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadThe interactive learning programme organized by UNRWA provides fun lessons online for students in grades one through three. The lessons and educational games focus on literacy and numeracy, as well as the core subjects of Arabic, English, mathematics and science. © 2015 UNRWA PhotoLeila and her sister Noor study their self-learning worksheets together in the Jaramana collective shelter. Support from teachers, friends, families and the community is critical in helping all students remain committed to their education until they can return to the classroom. © 2014 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadThe UNRWA TV satellite channel broadcasts lessons in core subjects. Here, Leila and her sister watch a lesson in their shared room at the Jaramana collective shelter in Damascus. © 2014 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid MohammadNinth-grade national exams are an important milestone for students in Syria and a pathway to further secondary and tertiary study. In 2015, EAC funded ninth-grade support classes in core subjects including Arabic, English, science and mathematics, which helped 4,380 students prepare for their exams. Qabr Essit, Damascus. © 2015 UNRWA Photo by Taghrid Mohammad

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