Graduates of Gaza universities demand jobs, degree recognition
Hana Salah, Al-monitor,
February 28, 2018
February 28, 2018
Gaza
university students and graduates are calling on the Ramallah government to
restore the accreditation of their schools while a committee sounds the alarm
about soaring unemployment rates.
university students and graduates are calling on the Ramallah government to
restore the accreditation of their schools while a committee sounds the alarm
about soaring unemployment rates.
Palestinian
students attend their graduation ceremony at the University College of Applied
Sciences in Gaza City, Sept. 10, 2014. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
students attend their graduation ceremony at the University College of Applied
Sciences in Gaza City, Sept. 10, 2014. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
GAZA
CITY, Gaza Strip — A number of university
graduates protested in front of the Ministry of Labor in Gaza Feb.
18, preventing Labor Minister Mamoun Abu Shahla from entering the building.
They were demanding solutions to the unemployment crisis.
CITY, Gaza Strip — A number of university
graduates protested in front of the Ministry of Labor in Gaza Feb.
18, preventing Labor Minister Mamoun Abu Shahla from entering the building.
They were demanding solutions to the unemployment crisis.
On Jan.
28, unemployed university graduates formed a
committee to promote their rights to employment in the public
sector. Committee spokesman Shadi al-Naqla told Al-Monitor that the ongoing
Palestinian division and failure to achieve true reconciliation, in addition to
the Israeli blockade, are making the already poor economic situation even
worse. Naqla added, “We are not seeking temporary employment opportunities. We
are demanding radical solutions to this problem, such as supporting small
projects, financing for projects and permanent jobs in vital sectors.”
28, unemployed university graduates formed a
committee to promote their rights to employment in the public
sector. Committee spokesman Shadi al-Naqla told Al-Monitor that the ongoing
Palestinian division and failure to achieve true reconciliation, in addition to
the Israeli blockade, are making the already poor economic situation even
worse. Naqla added, “We are not seeking temporary employment opportunities. We
are demanding radical solutions to this problem, such as supporting small
projects, financing for projects and permanent jobs in vital sectors.”
On Jan.
22, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights published a study on unemployment
in Gaza. The study indicated that political changes in the Gaza
Strip contributed to increasing unemployment rates, which hit a staggering
46.6% in 2017, exceeding 60%
among the youth, according to the Palestinian
Central Bureau of Statistics. There are 220,200 unemployed Gazans based
on the International Labor Organization’s definition of unemployed.
22, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights published a study on unemployment
in Gaza. The study indicated that political changes in the Gaza
Strip contributed to increasing unemployment rates, which hit a staggering
46.6% in 2017, exceeding 60%
among the youth, according to the Palestinian
Central Bureau of Statistics. There are 220,200 unemployed Gazans based
on the International Labor Organization’s definition of unemployed.
The study
noted that the number of graduates from higher education institutions for the
2016/2017 school year in the provinces of the Gaza Strip amounted to 21,508;
11,601 of them are men and 9,907 women. Currently enrolled students number
85,660.
noted that the number of graduates from higher education institutions for the
2016/2017 school year in the provinces of the Gaza Strip amounted to 21,508;
11,601 of them are men and 9,907 women. Currently enrolled students number
85,660.
Director
General of Employment and Policy in Gaza Majid Ismail told Al-Monitor, “The
student movement is making legitimate demands because graduates have a right to
work. Currently, the Labor Ministry of the consensus government is working to
find a solution to this issue through obtaining international and Arab funding
for the Youth Protection Employment Fund, the Youth Social Security Act and the
temporary employment program that was suspended two years ago.”
General of Employment and Policy in Gaza Majid Ismail told Al-Monitor, “The
student movement is making legitimate demands because graduates have a right to
work. Currently, the Labor Ministry of the consensus government is working to
find a solution to this issue through obtaining international and Arab funding
for the Youth Protection Employment Fund, the Youth Social Security Act and the
temporary employment program that was suspended two years ago.”
The
Ministry of Labor’s temporary employment program gives university graduates the
opportunity work in the public sector for three months with a monthly salary of
1,000 shekels ($288) for graduates with a bachelor’s degree and 900 shekels
($259) for those with a high school diploma. The program, which was scaled down
drastically two years ago, has employed 186,573 graduates between 2007 and
2017, currently placing workers only on projects funded by international
nongovernmental organizations. Over the last 10 years, more than a quarter of a
million university graduates, some of them with masters and doctoral degrees,
applied for the program.
Ministry of Labor’s temporary employment program gives university graduates the
opportunity work in the public sector for three months with a monthly salary of
1,000 shekels ($288) for graduates with a bachelor’s degree and 900 shekels
($259) for those with a high school diploma. The program, which was scaled down
drastically two years ago, has employed 186,573 graduates between 2007 and
2017, currently placing workers only on projects funded by international
nongovernmental organizations. Over the last 10 years, more than a quarter of a
million university graduates, some of them with masters and doctoral degrees,
applied for the program.
Al
Mezan’s study warned of the devastating
effects of the high unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip, including
serious social problems such as poverty, extremism and other crime.
Mezan’s study warned of the devastating
effects of the high unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip, including
serious social problems such as poverty, extremism and other crime.
Unemployment
is not the only problem facing thousands of young people in Gaza. Around 25,000
students and university graduates hold uncertified degrees, disqualifying them
to enter the labor market because the Ministry of Education with the government
of consensus refused to recognize the accreditation of their universities under
the former Hamas government in Gaza.
is not the only problem facing thousands of young people in Gaza. Around 25,000
students and university graduates hold uncertified degrees, disqualifying them
to enter the labor market because the Ministry of Education with the government
of consensus refused to recognize the accreditation of their universities under
the former Hamas government in Gaza.
On Jan.
24, the Gaza Student
Movement launched an online campaign to draw attention to the
accreditation issue. Many students, alumni and activists voiced solidarity
online using #OurFutureFallsApart
to draw attention to this crisis, calling for a solution. The movement
represents thousands of graduates and students of the eight affected
universities and colleges in the Gaza Strip.
24, the Gaza Student
Movement launched an online campaign to draw attention to the
accreditation issue. Many students, alumni and activists voiced solidarity
online using #OurFutureFallsApart
to draw attention to this crisis, calling for a solution. The movement
represents thousands of graduates and students of the eight affected
universities and colleges in the Gaza Strip.
Aya
Aslim, the head of the student
movement, told Al-Monitor, “After four months of working on this
movement, we stepped up our activities with multiple protests in January to
demand an immediate solution to the crisis. The issue threatens the future of
25,000 students and graduates of eight schools.”
Aslim, the head of the student
movement, told Al-Monitor, “After four months of working on this
movement, we stepped up our activities with multiple protests in January to
demand an immediate solution to the crisis. The issue threatens the future of
25,000 students and graduates of eight schools.”
The eight
universities include the Academy of Management and Policy for Graduate Studies,
Al-Ummah University College, Al-Awda University College, Ribat University
College, Palestine Polytechnic University, Zaytuna College, Nimaa for College
Sciences and Technology, and University College of Al-Sahaba.
universities include the Academy of Management and Policy for Graduate Studies,
Al-Ummah University College, Al-Awda University College, Ribat University
College, Palestine Polytechnic University, Zaytuna College, Nimaa for College
Sciences and Technology, and University College of Al-Sahaba.
“Our main
demand is to have our university degrees certified so that we can look for job
opportunities and fulfill our professional and educational future,” Aslim
noted.
demand is to have our university degrees certified so that we can look for job
opportunities and fulfill our professional and educational future,” Aslim
noted.
Ayman
al-Yazuri, the assistant undersecretary of higher education at the Ministry of
Education in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, “The ministry in Gaza cannot certify the
degrees of those who graduated from colleges and universities that have yet to
be accredited by the consensus government.” He added, “These educational
institutions are to blame since they need to conform to the standards set by
the Accreditation and Quality Assurance
Commission,” which is affiliated with the Ministry of Education of
the consensus government but was not active in Gaza during the division.
al-Yazuri, the assistant undersecretary of higher education at the Ministry of
Education in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, “The ministry in Gaza cannot certify the
degrees of those who graduated from colleges and universities that have yet to
be accredited by the consensus government.” He added, “These educational
institutions are to blame since they need to conform to the standards set by
the Accreditation and Quality Assurance
Commission,” which is affiliated with the Ministry of Education of
the consensus government but was not active in Gaza during the division.
But the
president of Al-Ummah University College, Rafat al-Hor, said the Gaza schools
are doing all they can and praised their efforts to regain accreditation and
solve the crisis.
president of Al-Ummah University College, Rafat al-Hor, said the Gaza schools
are doing all they can and praised their efforts to regain accreditation and
solve the crisis.
Hor told
Al-Monitor, “All eight of universities and colleges were granted permits by the
Gaza government in 2008. Today these eight universities and colleges have again
applied for a license from the consensus government. They have yet to receive
any answer.”
Al-Monitor, “All eight of universities and colleges were granted permits by the
Gaza government in 2008. Today these eight universities and colleges have again
applied for a license from the consensus government. They have yet to receive
any answer.”
