Status of Human Rights in Palestine
According to the latest results issued by the MOHE, the total rate of
enrollment in KG1 and KG2 together dropped as it recorded 56.1% in
2016. It is clear that the rate of enrollment in public kindergarten classes
is very low since the government failed to adequately provide this type of
public education system which is set forth in Article 6 of the Decree-Law
No. 8 of 2017 concerning Public Education.
The curricula in general receive considerable criticism. The curriculum
in Palestine still needs to introduce the principles of human rights in the
textbooks and to emphasize such principles in terms of their values, in a
clear, smooth, and significant manner, and to neutralize the content which
contravenes the human rights, or which provides a stereotyped image
of women in the textbooks. Further, it is required to ensure complete
consistency, harmony, and coherence between the textbooks of all
education stages, in the aspect related to teaching of human rights in the
curriculum.
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The rate of students with disabilities included in the public schools does
not exceed one percent of the total number of students. The statistical data
issued by the MOHE for the academic year 2016/2017 showed that the
number of students with disabilities who are enrolled in the public schools
reached 8074 students; 5350 in the West Bank and 2724 in Gaza Strip. The
results also indicated that the vocational education sectors10 do not include
any students with disabilities.
ICHR received 15 complaints against a number of institutions and
ministries, including alleged violations of the right to education, including
13 complaints in the West Bank and 2 complaints in Gaza Strip. The
complaints were about the shortage of teachers capable of dealing with
students with disabilities, requests to furnish the students who live in
remote areas with transportation and to provide transportation for the
students with disabilities, requests for exemption from school fees, and
complaints pertaining to academic freedoms.
The replies received by ICHR from the MOHE regarding accountability of
the officials for violating the right to education concluded that about 116
investigation committees were formed to investigate personnel accused
10
MOHE. Ibid
23rd Annual Report 1 January - 31 December 2017