Dubai: Thousands of children in violence-hit communities in Palestine are gaining access to education under a Dubai Cares-funded programme.
Right Start! is supporting 3,400 children in 25 preschools in Gaza, the West Bank and occupied east Jerusalem.
Dubai Cares is working with a partner to improve early childhood care, education and development of children aged three to six in remote and disadvantaged communities.
The programme is rehabilitating preschools in the areas, where violence and lack of security have hampered education.
Most preschools lack basic learning materials, play equipment and other educational resources. Additionally, preschool teachers and supervisors are under-trained and poorly paid.
In addition, most private preschools charge fees, making it inaccessible to a large percentage of Palestinian children, especially those living in remote areas.
Heart of conflict
Beit Misrim and Anab Al Kabir are distant villages typical of the West Bank — landlocked and at the heart of the ongoing geopolitical conflict.
The villages are finding it difficult to kick-start and sustain growth. Unemployment is rampant and few can afford to pay the tuition or transportation fees to send their children to preschool.
The children in this region have historically fallen behind their global counterparts when it comes to reading, writing and counting due to the lack of preschool facilities.
But all that is set to change, with Early Childhood Development (ECD) galvanised by Dubai Cares.
Early indications are the initial results are proving fruitful, said Mona Tahboub, country programme manager, Dubai Cares.
“It’s proven from research that [ECD] is vital to readiness for primary school. It’s very catalytic; support at this early stage lasts a lifetime,” Mona told Gulf News.
To make the programme effective, teachers are being trained in child-centred learning. “You have to improve pedagogy, teach them how to deal with children that young.”
Mona added that teachers undergo a 33-day specialised course and receive a diploma at the end of it.
Parents, too, are involved in the process so they can better teach children at home. What’s more, there is buy-in from the authorities in West Bank, ensuring the programme is “sustainable and long term”.
Funded by Dubai Cares, Right Start! is an ECD programme initiated by ANERA (American Near East Refugee Aid).
It takes quality pre-school education to remote communities like Beit Misrim and Anab Al Kabir. Thanks to funding from Dubai Cares and support from the Palestinian Ministry of Education, ANERA is establishing kindergarten classes within existing elementary schools across the West Bank, as part of a campaign to make pre-school education available to the most marginalised communities of the West Bank and Gaza.
Under the programme, the preschools were re-modelled and fitted out with curtains, carpets, child-sized tables and chairs to create a cheerful learning environment for students.
The schools’ playgrounds were also redesigned with safety in mind and the bathrooms were renovated to make them gender-sensitive and usable for primary-age children.
Additionally, Dubai Cares and ANERA provided high-quality learning materials, from books and puzzles to art materials and special reading corner.
The revamp was not limited to infrastructural development – preschool teachers also utilised their skills and the tools provided to stimulate the children’s creativity and level of learning.
