Tunis, September 19, 2024
Mr. Mohamed Salem Esharkaoui , the Director in charge of running the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Asharif Agency (BMAQ) , emphasized today in the Tunisian capital that the Agency, under the leadership of the Al-Quds Committee chaired by HM King Mohammed VI, addresses the conditions in the Holy City and its social sectors with a deep and nuanced understanding of the city’s unique character, legal status, and the complex challenges it confronts.
Mr. Esharkaoui stressed, in a speech delivered during the conference titled “The Reality of Children’s Education in Al-Quds Al-Sharif,” organized by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) in partnership with the Palestinian National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science, the importance of considering the economic and social factors of the Palestinian community in Al-Quds when addressing the reality of education for Arab generations in the city.
Regarding the on-the-ground interventions of the BMAQ Agency in the field of education in the Holy City, Mr. Esharkaoui emphasized that these efforts involve initiatives aimed at supporting the education system, aligning with the efforts of Palestinian partners to safeguard the national identity and the authentic Palestinian narrative. In parallel, there are ongoing efforts to enhance the educational environment in schools and universities.
The director in charge of running BMAQ detailed that the Agency’s efforts in education encompass building new schools, renovating and maintaining current ones, and enhancing sports, scientific, and cultural facilities.
The Agency supports students by awarding more than 120 scholarships to Palestinian students across various fields. It also organizes an annual summer school program that serves 4,000 children, making it the largest such gathering in Al-Quds. Additionally, the Agency promotes academic research and university studies that aim to deepen understanding of the Palestinian cause, emphasizing its historical accuracy, full geography, and its key figures, writers, and cultural heritage.
Mr. Esharkaoui highlighted that the total value of projects and programs implemented in the education sector of the Holy City surpassed $13 million. These efforts included refurbishing and outfitting multiple schools, renting buildings to serve as educational institutions in Al-Quds, covering licensing fees for new school construction, and purchasing residential properties to convert into learning facilities. Additionally, new schools and educational buildings, such as the Hassan II School in the Wadi Al-Joz neighborhood, were constructed. The initiatives also provided equipment to enhance the learning environment, alongside the “Beautiful Schools” program, which focused on renovating, upgrading, and fully equipping 10 schools.
Mr. Esharkaoui emphasized that the Palestinian education sector in Al-Quds urgently needs to improve school infrastructure, renovate and maintain existing institutions, and increase capacity to alleviate overcrowding. This effort should involve the addition of at least 80 classrooms each year, as well as enhancements to educational support facilities, libraries, and laboratories. Furthermore, a strong focus on human resources is essential to tackle the existing shortage of teaching staff.
At the conclusion of the conference’s opening session, Mr. Mohamed Salem Esharkaoui received a plaque from Mohamed Ould Amar, the Director General of ALECSO. This recognition honored the Agency’s significant efforts and initiatives in the Holy City.
