Overview of the General Education System

The education system in Palestine is influenced by a long history of conflict and political challenges due to years of occupation. Control over education has shifted over time, starting with the British Mandate from 1917 to 1948, then to Jordanian and Egyptian authorities from 1948 to 1967, and finally to Israeli occupation after 1967.

In 1993, the Oslo Accords allowed the Palestinian Authority (PA) to gain limited control over education. However, this control is still constrained by the ongoing Israeli occupation. The occupation impacts various aspects, including the construction and renovation of schools, as well as access to essential resources needed for education. This has a significant impact on education, especially in Gaza and certain areas of the West Bank, where military actions often disrupt schooling.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE) is in charge of the education system, which includes both public and private schools and those run by UNRWA. The MOEHE has 41 units, including 21 at the district level. There is a Curriculum Development Center that creates educational materials, and the Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission checks the standards for higher education.

Despite these challenges, education is highly valued in Palestinian society, with a 95.4% enrollment rate in basic education. However, there are significant dropout rates, particularly among vulnerable groups; 25% of boys and 7% of girls leave school by age 15. Many children with disabilities also face barriers to education, with only 22.5% of boys and 30% of girls aged 6 to 15 having ever enrolled in school.

Clearly, the education system is also complicated by various governing bodies, including private and religious organizations. This makes it difficult to ensure consistent quality, especially in preschool, where only 5.69% of 1,705 preschools are run by the state.

Compulsory education in Palestine spans ten years, which cover children aged 6 to 16. Guided by the Child Law of 2005, this period is free in public schools and consists of basic education organized into two stages: the preparatory stage (grades 1–4) and the empowerment stage (grades 5–10), as per the Palestinian Curriculum Plan of 1998.

Early childhood education, while not compulsory, targets children aged 3 years 8 months to 5 years 8 months, with a low national attendance rate of only 40%, far below the global average of 56%. The private sector, Christian schools, and civil organizations manage 94.31% of early childhood programs, leaving the state with limited oversight or capacity for quality control.

At the secondary level, education covers two years (grades 11 and 12), and is divided into academic and vocational tracks. Completion requires students to pass the national matriculation exam (Tawjihi), which awards the General Secondary School Certificate—a prerequisite for higher education admission.

The MOEHE administers most secondary schools across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while in East Jerusalem, the Islamic Endowment (Waqf) Department operates government schools under the Ministry's supervision.

Higher education in Palestine is provided through a variety of institutions, including universities, university colleges, polytechnics, and community colleges. There are 49 accredited higher education institutions across the West Bank and Gaza, collectively serving more than 221,000 students.

The gross enrollment ratio for the 18–24 age group is an impressive 25.8%, surpassing averages in other Middle Eastern and developing countries. Community colleges offer one- and two-year diploma programs, equivalent to associate degrees, preparing students for middle-level technical roles. Universities and polytechnics offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, with bachelor's degrees generally requiring four years, except for medical programs, which extend to six years. Postgraduate diplomas and master's degrees typically take two years, while doctoral programs require a minimum of two years of study.

Obviously, higher education in Palestine faces frequent disruptions due to conflict. During Israel's 2014 military operation in Gaza, 14 higher education institutions were damaged, and 412 students were killed, underscoring the sector’s vulnerability. The academic calendar consists of 35 working weeks (210 days), divided into two semesters.