Publisher: IPCC Jerusalem, 2012

The goal behind building an educational sector strategy is to move Palestinian education in East Jerusalem from the process of rebuilding to the phase of comprehensive and holistic planning. It is necessary to address both quality and quantity as well as the economic and social development needs. IPCC proposes that this should be done through preparing a master plan for education that will provide a clear and strong vision for high quality education; a well-defined implementation strategy and a long term plan to support employment. It is hoped that this will generate structural solutions that promote education in East Jerusalem and increase educational opportunities.

The strategy should be built on three basic pillars: enrolment, quality of education, and management. In addition, it should respond to the needs of the market and society, as realised and defined according to international and universal criteria and standards. The plan should consider all levels of education including kindergartens, general education (basic and secondary stages), literacy programs, lifelong or continuing education, vocational and higher education.

The five-year strategic plan for educational development (2008-2012) which was prepared by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MOEHE), was developed with participation from all partners in the process of planning, highlighted the education situation in Jerusalem and suggested expansion of programmes and projects. JIIS also prepared a master plan but it only included municipal schools, not private and public schools, and rather than dealing with development and innovation, the plan only dealt with the shortage of classrooms.

Education in Jerusalem should be given special attention, especially in the field of provision of schools, classrooms, improving teachers' salaries and encouraging donors to invest in education in Jerusalem. Loans and grants for higher education should be provided according to students’ needs.