A delegation from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, headed by Undersecretary of Education Dr. Nafie Assaf, accompanied by the Finnish Ambassador to the Foreign Ministry Jukka Salo Parra, paid a field visit to Deir Nizam Mixed Secondary School in Birzeit Education, where they were informed of the ongoing violations that students and teachers are subjected to by the occupation army and settlers.
The delegation included Assistant Undersecretary for Student Affairs Sadiq Al-Khudour, Finland’s Representative to Palestine Tarja Kenja Skurti, Director General of Buildings Eng. Wissam Nakhleh, Director General of Birzeit Education Nasrallah Abu Hijleh, and figures from the local community in the town.
During the visit, the delegation witnessed the great difficulties facing teachers and students in reaching school, as teachers indicated that they were subjected to continuous attacks, including being prevented from reaching school and being harassed during their commute. A number of students spoke abou
t their harsh experiences with attacks, reflecting the suffering experienced by the educational community in the region.
In this context, Assaf stressed the depth of the relations between Palestine and Finland, praising Finland’s continuous support for the Palestinian education sector, reviewing the suffering faced by students and teachers in this school as a general model of what Palestinian teachers and students are exposed to, stressing that despite these challenges, students and teachers insist on continuing their education and achieving their dreams.
For his part, Parra stressed the importance of education in achieving sustainable development, drawing inspiration from his country’s experience, thanks to which Finland has become one of the world’s most advanced countries. He expressed his happiness with the distinguished partnership with the ministry, pointing to the ongoing support provided by Finland to the education sector in Palestine, and looking forward to continuing this support to enhance the qu
ality of education and provide equal opportunities for Palestinian students in all circumstances.
Source: Maan News Agency