Social Cohesion and Education Sector Analysis
State of Palestine
This report summarizes findings from several analyses undertaken to explore the situation in the State of Palestine, in particular the underlying causes of vulnerability and protracted instability. The analyses were conducted to inform UNICEF's Peacebuilding, Education and Advocacy (PBEA) programme, funded by the Government of the Netherlands. This report explores factors affecting social cohesion and triggering fragmentation of the social fabric within Palestinian society, in particular the role of education. It also identifies ways to support national efforts to enhance social cohesion in the country, particularly through the education system. (p. 1)
This report builds on findings from the desk review of several United Nations (UN) documents including the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and its annex on Conflict Sensitivity: "Towards a conflict sensitive UNDAF", a UNICEF-led analysis on social cohesion and education in East Jerusalem, the 2013 Situation Analysis of Palestinian Children undertaken by UNICEF State of Palestine, and related status reports from UN agencies. (p. 1)
[T]here are opportunities to strengthen the capacity of education to contribute towards social cohesion in Palestine, and to leverage cultural strengths to support a better future for all Palestinian children. The recommendations below are entry points to improve education in Palestine in the short- and medium-term and to empower Palestinians to support conditions for long-term change:
- Link school to work;
- Increase advocacy for children's rights;
- Coordinate education service providers;
- Use school spaces as community centres;
- Enrich curriculum;
- Train teachers;
- Deliver violence prevention programmes;
- Support cultural identity programmes. (pp. 7-8)