São Paulo – The Jalazone schools, run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Unrwa), in the West Bank, have undergone renovation works using US$ 1.7 million donated from the United States government, leading to an improved learning environment. The two schools are attended by 600 boys and over 1,000 girls, according to information released on the United Nations (UN) website.
The schools are among the Unwra’s oldest in the West Bank, and were very cold and damp prior to the renovation. They were built at a time when the local population was less numerous. The refurbishing started in 2011. An additional 31 new rooms were built, as well as a laboratory, bathrooms, a handicraft room, a playground and a canteen.
The enlarged facilities eliminate the need for the double shift system, with afternoon and evening classes, created so the schools could accommodate all classes and students. “An important change with the new school is we no longer fear about the little girls travelling home in the dark. There is a safe environment for the kids to learn in,” the school’s director Sana Bayari explained, according to the UN website.
The improved facilities have had a positive impact on student learning. In annual Arabic exams, Jalazone schoolgirls had a 90% success rate, compared to 20% to 30% the year before the renovation. Also, importantly, not a single student has dropped out since, according to the ONU.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
