West Bank and Gaza :Education Sector Analysis - Impressive Achievements Under Harsh Conditions and the Way Forward to Consolidate a Quality Education System
The Palestinian Education Systemcomprises a Mandatory Basic Cycle covering Grades 1 to 10,divided into the Preparation Stage (Grades 1 to 4) and theEmpowerment Stage (Grades 5 to 10). Optional SecondaryEducation covers Grades 11 and 12, with the option ofgeneral secondary education, and a few vocational secondaryschools. Post secondary education is offered in 11universities, (10 private and one public), 11 technicalcolleges (4 government, 2 UNWRA, 4 public and 1 private)which offer mainly 4 year programs. In addition there are 19community colleges (1 government, 9 public, 2 UNRWA, and 7private) that offer mainly two-year diploma courses intechnical and commercial specializations. The Ministry ofEducation and Higher Education (MOEHE) developed in 1999 afive-year Education Development Plan for the period2000-2005. This was the first time after the establishmentof the Palestinian Authority in 1994 that the MOEHEdeveloped a National Plan with a unified vision for thePalestinian education system from pre-school to secondary education.