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There are 108 schools in
Palestine administered by the church. These schools have
experienced in the past
and in the present a terrific hardship as a result of the Israeli
military
presence in the west
Bank and Gaza. Many schools closed their doors.
According to the
Palestinian Ministry of Education, about 50,000 students could not
get to
school on October
2001.At least 3 schools were occupied by Israeli soldiers and turned
into military camps.
Over 2,000 students have been injured on their way to or from
school,
and 137 have been killed
trying to make it to school.
In October 2000 and in
October 2001, teachers in the Beit Jala Latin Patriarchate School
reported that children
are suffering from nightmares, lack of focus and concentration,
fear,
and depression. The
psychological impact on children is also evidence by repeated
absence from school.
Children’s conversation reflects fear to the point that they are
alarmed
and shaken by any loud
noise.
The difficulties
experience by Christian schools include the following:
-Debates over updating
curriculum, particularly growing influence of militant Islam.
-Lack of funding,
children from poorer Christian families are overlooked. Parents who
previously sent their
children can no longer afford school fees and tuition.
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