Within the framework of the Convention “Improving primary and secondary education in the Palestinian Territories”, financed by AECID and implemented by Bethlehem University together with the FPSC, comprehensive training activities include a special way to the directors and other administrative staff, essential for the smooth running of schools and improving the quality of education.
Running a school is like conducting an orchestra, each on his own but with one eye on what the director says, lest someone gets out of tune. At first glance it seems simple, teachers teach and students learn, but how do you form a good director?
The 57 Palestinian schools participating in the Convention of Education funded by AECID and running since June 2010 have not stopped in their quest to find out. They wanted the activities in workshops on ways to improve school management not only to be extended for a few months, but also include other Palestinian schools that are not part of the Convention but who can benefit from the contents of the seminars. After several months of waiting, the workshop “Managing Schools: towards improvement of teaching methods of teaching and learning in schools” finally took place last February 25 at the University of Bethlehem. First and later groups together, sharing the findings, principals discussed important issues such as financial management, human resources, the various school policies and the importance of local community involvement in schools, among other things.
Directors and staff of nearly 150 Palestinian schools participated in a day dedicated to improving the modus operandi of each school. “From September to December 2011 several schools participated in seminars on management”, explained Rizek Sleibi, Dean of the Faculty of Education at Bethlehem University and coordinator of the Convention, “success was such that the directors themselves asked to continue these sessions and include the 57 targeted schools”, he added. The end result is that the number has doubled, and 150 schools have participated.
Rafael Pañeda, Head of Social Services Programs Technical Cooperation Office in Jerusalem, was present in these activities.