week of action - right to education campaign
23 - 30 November, 2024
Call to action
United Against Scholasticide is the latest and urgent call of the Right to Education Campaign, launched by Birzeit University in coordination with other Palestinian universities. The campaign highlights the issues that Palestinian education is confronted with under Israel's military occupation and stands up for Palestinian educational rights and against the ongoing scholasticide. During Nov. 23-30, 2024, it invites us to join a week of action.
“This Week of Action is more than just symbolic. It is an international movement united against the deliberate destruction of education, aiming to secure the future of higher learning in Gaza and all of Palestine” (Right to Education Campaign, Birzeit University Palestine, 2024).
In response, DSP urges you to make a donation to support education in Gaza and encourages you to join events this week. More information about donating and events can be found below.
Systematic destruction of education
The systematic destruction of education by the Israeli military in Gaza MUST STOP. Since October 2023, Israel’s military forces have killed at least 10,490 school and university students, injured at least 16,700, and killed more than 500 teachers and university educators, including an estimated 94 professors and 3 university presidents.
As of March 2024, 63% of all tertiary education campuses have become rubble, including the main campuses of all universities, due to Israel's indiscriminate bombing campaign. Moreover, essential research equipment has been extensively damaged. As a result of the scholasticide, an estimated 88.000 university students have been unable to continue their education and employees, academic and non-academic, have been unable to earn any income.
Remarkable resilience in the face of destruction
Since May 2024, universities in Gaza have successfully restored their servers and databases, and set up emergency committees to resume educational services via distance learning tools and online learning platforms.
Around 22,000 Gazan students have registered via online platforms, of which 22.5% have successfully completed their graduation requirements, with masters students defending their thesis online, in tents or in person in Cairo.
Time to Turn Solidarity into Action
In May, over 180 Gazan academics signed an open letter expressing their commitment to rebuild their universities and resume the educational process in the Gaza Strip, while affirming their right to exist. They call on us to take action and provide support.
The Right to Education Campaign asks us to turn solidarity into action.
In the following slides, you can find various ways in which you can take action to support Gaza universities.
Donate to support education in Gaza
Donate to the “Support Gaza Initiative” by Birzeit University
Any amount, by credit card or direct bank transfer
https://www.birzeit.edu/en/campaign-gaza-2024
Donate to “Right2Education Marathon: United Against Scholasticide”
Any amount, by credit card, bank transfer, PayPal, and other
https://www.every.org/welfare-association-ch/f/right-to-education-marathon
Join events in the Netherlands this week
Several events are being organized at Dutch universities this week in solidarity with Palestine. Find some of them here:
UvA:
28 November: sit-in and silent vigil
For more information, see @aufreepalestine on Instagram
Leiden:
29 November: poster workshop
For more information, see @leidenscholarsforpalestine on Instagram
Only open to students and staff of Leiden University
HvA:
2 December: Kuffeyeh day
For more information, see @hva4palestine on Instagram
References:
Al-Mqadma, A., Dittli, R., & Belotti, M. (October 2024). "Resilience in the Rubble – A Needs Assessment of Higher Education in The Gaza Strip." Swisspeace. https://www.swisspeace.ch/assets/publications/Reports/241030_Report_Gaza-Higher-Education-Needs-Assessment_final.pdf
Birzeit University. (n.d.). "Support Gaza Initiative." https://www.birzeit.edu/en/campaign-gaza-2024
Gaza Academics and Administrators. (May 29, 2024). "Open letter by Gaza academics and university administrators to the world." AlJazeera. https://www-aljazeera-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions/2024/5/29/open-letter-by-gaza-academics-and-university-administrators-to-the-world?fbclid=IwY2xjawEXbqlleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZTCKcHifEI3K5pOmIVoQ0jVtmlgWfq-kAWctLp1JyoPEcacWaGfDBE
Mezan. (September 2, 2024). “Scholasticide: Israel’s deliberate and systematic destruction of the Palestinian education system in Gaza." https://www.mezan.org/uploads/files/2024/9/1725265325Scholasticide-%20Israel%E2%80%99s%20deliberate%20and%20systematic%20destruction%20of%20the%20Palestinian%20education%20system%20in%20Gaza.pdf.
Right to Education Campaign, Birzeit University Palestine. (November 7, 2024). "Call for a Week of Action "United against Scholasticide" November 23 – 30, 2024." https://right2edu.birzeit.edu/call-for-a-week-of-actionunited-against-scholasticidenovember-23-30-2024/
Taawon. (n.d.). "Right to Education Marathon: United Against Scholasticide." On every.org. https://www.every.org/welfare-association-ch/f/right-to-education-marathon