By Margo Sabella
JERUSALEM-WESTBANK-GAZA - A new boys' school has opened its doors to 400 students attending the 5th to 9th grades in one of the villages of the West Bank. Built in partnership with World Vision and funded by USAID, the Azzun Basic Boys School was inaugurated in the village of Azzun in the West Bank on February 5, with members of the community and the Palestinian Minister of Higher Education present.
The brand new facility, painted blue and yellow, holds ten classrooms, offices for the administration, a teachers' lounge, a counseling room, a computer laboratory and library, a multi-purpose hall, and a playground where students can practice playing basketball.
'We have a vision for a better future for 100,000 children living here. Let it begin here, and let us see a better future for these kids,' said Charles Clayton, National Director for World Vision - Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, addressing the crowd that assembled to celebrate the opening.
'We've only finished the construction, now we have to invest in the children. You have been doing this for many years; this just means you can do it in a better facility,' added Clayton.
Although the village already has two other boys' schools, a new one was needed to solve the problem of overcrowding, especially since many children from surrounding villages come to Azzun to attend school.
The village became a centre for other towns nearby when movement restrictions prevented many children and adults, alike, from traveling very far for education or employment. The construction of the school created job opportunities for 15 individuals, which provided them with a steady income for the duration of the project.
Despite the conflict, the Palestinian educational system was able to reach and maintain 'relatively high levels of educational development,' according to a recently published World Bank report on educational reform in the Middle East and Africa. This could be attributed to the fact that the Palestinian community traditionally placed much emphasis on education as a way of overcoming the conflict. 'Do you know that many of the world's great leaders came out of suffering? They overcame many obstacles in their lives and they achieved their greatness partly because they overcame these obstacles,' remarked Clayton.
Excited crowds of boys, proud of their new school, greeted the visitors. A series of speeches was followed by a traditional folklore dance, performed by students. 'This is a great opportunity here to express our thanks and appreciation for all the organizations who helped to accomplish and furnish this project,' one of the students said. After the cutting of the ribbon, guests and members of the community made a tour of the new facility.