outperforming their national highest quality, with refugees education forrefugeesandthe offers the mostcost-effective study demonstrated that UNRWA A recentWorldBank-UNHCR region. economic development of the and contributed to the social and graduated fromUNRWAschools 1950s, over2millionstudents parity inthe region.Sincethe were the first to achieve gender In the 1960s,UNRWAschools development. 2030 Agenda for sustainable contributing tothe UnitedNations achieve their fullpotential,thereby and equitable education andcan have access to quality, inclusive ensure that Palestine refugees Agency playsauniquerole to Palestine refugeechildren. The basic education forover530,000 East Jerusalem), providingfree and the WestBank,including (Syria, Lebanon,,Gaza, in itsfivefieldsofoperation UNRWA operatesover700schools parity quality educationand gender UNRWA achievements: high promoting human rightsandtolerance inthe region education www.unrwa.org for palestine refugees in the united nationsreliefandworks agency an investment inaqualityeducation: industry, labourmarket relevance andcontinousinnovation. role incurriculadevelopment. Thishasbeenachieved throughallianceswiththe The UNRWA TVET programme is renownedfor both its quality and its pioneering reaping the majorityof“toptenranked individuals” invariousspecializations. students perform higher on their exams compared to their national counterparts, of educational sciences employment rate stands at 75 per cent. UNRWA TVET Technical andVocationalEducation TrainingCenters(TVET)andtwofaculty in Palestine refugee camps,particularlyamongthe youth,UNRWAseven In aregionwhere unemployment isrampingandpovertydespairaregrowing learning thisyear. introduced collaborative,curriculum-basedinternationalisminteaching and schools withthe “InternationalSchool Award”,thatsupportschools that have is “competent, resilient and resolute”. The BritishCouncil honoured 59 Agency’s praises UNRWAschools andstudenteducational outcomes, statingthe Agency that monitorsthe performanceofmultilateral development organizations, driven MultilateralOrganizationPerformanceAssessment Network(MOPAN) live. Other internationallyrecognizedandneutralevaluators,such asthe donor counterparts byoneyearoflearning, despitethe adverseenvironment inwhich they Ingenuity project. possible by to Mars, was a monumental achievement previously unimaginable and made flight ofIngenuity,the helicopter that accompaniedthe Perseverancerover is LoayElbasyouni,agraduate ofUNRWAschools inGaza.The successfulfirst COVID-19. Another example ofextraordinary UNRWAschool alumniachievement torn Syriatohelp ateamofresearchers developavaccinecandidate against renowned MaxPlanck InstituteinGermany,leaving behindhisfamilyinwar- refugee whostudiedatanUNRWAschool inSyria, whoisnowworkingatthe Agency’s education programme. Amongthem is The successofUNRWAstudentsisthe realmeasure ofthe importanceofthe From RefugeeCamptoVaccineLaboratory:Nowras’Journey ofDiscovery © 2020UNRWA photo Adwan by Khalil intheUNRWAStudents ontheirfirstdayofschool School Co-Educational Jabalia Elementary “A”. Loay ’s hardwork.Today,he isthe lead electrical engineeronthe Nowras , ayoungPalestine Promoting , it is the Agency’s responsibility to reduce the risk of violation of UN values to a tolerance and non- minimum. To this end, we continuously strengthen our monitoring, textbook review and risk management processes and address immediately and forcefully As a UN Agency committed to any breaches. uphold humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, Pioneering Education in Emergencies to respond to conflict, displacement and a and independence, UNRWA global pandemic promotes UN values in its schools and has a zero-tolerance policy Operating in a region facing multiple conflicts and crisis affecting the access to for discrimination and incitement formal education in school, the delivery of quality education to Palestine refugees to hate and . is a continuous challenge, requiring flexibility, adaptability and innovation. UNRWA has pioneered the ‘Education in Emergencies’ framework in the region, ensuring Unique to the region, UNRWA Palestine can continue to access their right to education, leaving introduced human rights, no student behind. In Syria, UNICEF utilized UNRWA self-learning materials to conflict resolution and tolerance support Syrian children. The unique and innovative work of the UNRWA YouTube education in all its schools to channel, provides supplemental video learning material and has reached 1 million promote proactively UN values, subscribers. The channel also brings educational content to students and their including neutrality, human parents beyond the the Agency’s five fields of operation. During the COVID-19 rights, tolerance, equality, and pandemic, UNRWA education experts rose to the challenge again, launching non-discrimination. In 2001, a centralized, online digital learning platform where supplemental teaching UNRWA began introducing material was made availible for remote learning. This platform provides a safe, student parliaments in each of accessible and centrally monitored system for teachers, administrators, parents, its schools as part of its human and students to access instructional materials. All material on the platform is rights education programme. centrally cleared to ensure full compliance with UN values. School parliaments help to promote a culture of respect, What’s next: closing the digital divide peaceful conflict resolution and tolerance and play an effective Modernizing the UNRWA education system is key to close the digital divide role in promoting these values highlighted by COVID-19. This will ensure that UNRWA students continue to within the schools and the broader engage with ideas from around the world. Further, digitalizing the Agency’s community. UNRWA education education programme is part of broader UNRWA plans to modernize operations to is an antidote to the widespread ensure effective and efficient service delivery, in line with the times and fulfilling violence, hatred and intolerance its mandate, as outlined by the UN General Assembly. The Agency is also working spreading in the region. to further enhance the learning experience of Palestine refugee children and youth through information technology and increased internet access. The Agency Consistent with best UN practice will seek to further increase accessibility by partnering with providers to offer in refugee settings, the Agency connectivity packages and ensure that UNRWA students are digitally savvy and uses in its schools the curriculum well positioned to seize opportunities in the growing global digital economy. of the Host country. This ensures Palestine refugees can integrate into host educational systems at any level and more broadly participate in the social and economic life of the host country. The Agency conducts in- depth reviews of every textbook issued by the Host countries and empowers teachers to address the specific identified issues of concern in a way that is in line with UN values. While there is nothing like zero risk when operating in UNRWA Education Programmee staff distribute tablets to students as part of the Self-Learning complex humanitarian settings, Program (SLP) in Saida, Lebanon. © 2020 UNRWA photo by Ahmad Mahmoud

relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east

www.unrwa.org

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 with a mandate to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to registered Palestine refugees in the Agency’s area of operations, namely the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. Thousands of Palestine refugees who lost both their homes and livelihood because of the 1948 conflict have remained displaced and in need of significant support for over seventy years. UNRWA helps them achieve their full potential in human development through quality services it provides in education, health care, relief and , protection, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions.