Al Mezan Demands the Education Sector De-Politicized

The sharp political division in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) continues to produce negative effects on people's lives.
The lives of Gazans and services provided for them, particularly in the health and education sectors, feel the direct impact of this division between the governments in Gaza and Ramallah.
Public servants in these sectors face harassment due to decisions and counter decisions, as employees are laid-off and replaced, while thousands of other employees are deprived from receiving their salaries under illegal pretexts.
Current events taking place in the education sector reflect this political polarization and show how decisions and counter-decisions taken in Gaza and Ramallah impact the population.
On 23 March 2008 (11:00am), a delegation from the Ministry of Education of the deposed government in Gaza visited the College of Science and Technology in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.
The delegation included the Acting Director of Education Department in the Ministry of the deposed government and the Director of the Office of the Ministry's Deputy.
They were escorted by guards and a representative from the Ministry of Interior.
During this visit, the Dean of the College was informed of a decision by the Minister of Education, Muhammad Al Agha, in which the Minister decided to expel him and appoint Dr.
Mohammed Al A'raj to the post of Acting Dean.
Two of the Dean's deputies were also expelled under the same decision.
After this visit, the Workers Committee in the College announced their decision to suspend their work in protest against the Ministry's decisions.
The local media reported that the Palestinian National Authority's (PNA) Ministry of Education (MoE), based in Ramallah, suspended study at the College in protest against what they described as Hamas' arbitrary interference in the College's affairs.
They also rejected the dismissal and appointment of college personnel by Hamas.
The Ministry in Ramallah urged the college not to deal with the new staff and to consider all their decisions to be null and void.
According to media reports, the MoE in Ramallah called on the Union of Arab Universities to halt all cooperation with the College.
Starting from 23 March 2008, the Ministry stressed that any changes in the College made without the consent of the Minister of Education to be illegal and will not be recognized.
Al Mezan tried to contact the MoE in Ramallah and Gaza to verify the information made available to them, but could not get a hold of personnel authorized to speak about the matter.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights stresses that the right to education is a basic human right, and it requires various resources and support to achieve its objectives.
It also requires an appropriate atmosphere where students can learn safely and effectively.
The above mentioned issues, including suspension of salaries, arbitrary dismissal of personnel, and the threat of certificates not being recognized outside the Strip, have created an atmosphere of anxiety and inattentiveness since students fear they have no future.
Despite a breakthrough under the Sana'a agreement between the PNA and Hamas that promises to restore political cohesion through dialogue, the effects of the political conflict continue to inflict harm on the various aspects of citizen life in the OPT.
Therefore, Al Mezan calls for limiting the politicization of basic service sectors, which encroaches on the rights of Palestinian citizens.
It also calls for both sides to work in favor of the public interest and to give it greater importance than partisan interests.
Al Mezan also reminds all stakeholders in the OPT of their obligations to respect, protect and fulfill human rights, including the right to education and the right to work.
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