Cairo: The 111th session of the Committee for Educational Programs for Arab Students in the Occupied Arab Territories commenced at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo, under the chairmanship of Palestine.
According to Qatar News Agency, the committee, over the course of five days, will focus on challenges posed by Israeli occupation authorities, particularly targeting educational institutions, students, and teachers, as well as restrictions aimed at undermining Palestinian education. The committee asserts these actions infringe on the fundamental right to education for Palestinians and Arabs in the occupied territories.
The agenda includes strategies to counteract attacks on Palestinian educational curricula and to address political and financial pressures. Discussions will also cover Arab and international support for education in Palestine and efforts to bolster the resilience of Palestinian students amidst ongoing adversities.
Additionally, the committee will critique Israeli curricula content promoting violence and racism, considering it a breach of international human rights conventions. Strategies to confront these educational practices and defend Palestinian educational rights will also be explored.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Faed Mustafa, Assistant Secretary-General and head of the Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories sector at the Arab League, highlighted the severe impact on the education sector due to targeted Israeli actions. He referred to the situation as a major catastrophe, citing significant human and material losses within the education sector.
Ambassador Mustafa elaborated on the crisis in Gaza, describing it as one of the worst in history, exacerbated by what he termed a war of extermination. He pointed to the widespread destruction of educational infrastructure and targeted attacks on students and teachers, including facilities operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
He warned that the ongoing educational genocide in the occupied territories poses long-term threats, potentially worsening social and economic crises while weakening societal resilience and recovery. The damage, he emphasized, is an attack on Palestinian identity and culture, aiming to systematically deprive Palestinians of knowledge and educational tools.