| An Education Denied: Report on the Impact of the Closure of Border Crossings on Students from the Gaza Strip Studying Abroad |
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| Saturday, 21 November 2009 00:00 |
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Introduction The
illegal, Israeli-imposed, closure of the Gaza Strip, severely impacts upon the
ability of Palestinian students to pursue third-level education abroad. The
closure denies students from the Gaza Strip access to educational institutions
both in foreign countries, and in the West Bank, jeopardizing their educational
future. Students denied permission to travel to further their education face an
uncertain future; their suffering is compounded by the fact that they risk
losing scholarships, or having their university registration cancelled.
The closure of the Gaza
Strip’s border crossings has deprived thousands of students of the opportunity
to pursue further study in their chosen fields abroad. This restriction of
third-level educational opportunities will have evident long-term repercussions
for the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of students have
been forced to sacrifice studying their chosen majors, in order to pursue the
more limited options available in the Gaza Strip; this is a compromise which
often comes into conflict with students’ skills, dreams, and ambitions.
Arbitrary measures imposed by Israeli Occupation Force’s (IOF) have deprived
thousands of Gazan students from beginning third level study in West Bank, while
hundreds of other students have been denied permission to return to the West
Bank to resume their studies. About 250
students from higher education levels (BA, MA, Ph.D), who study in universities
abroad or have joined universities lately, are not able to travel abroad to
continue their education at institutions and universities in various foreign
countries[1]. This report highlights the
impact of the tightened IOF-imposed closure the Gaza Strip on the hundreds of
university student, who have been denied access to universities in the West
Bank, and around the world[2]. Moreover, this report
intends to draw the attention of the international community and international
organizations, especially those concerned about human rights, to continuing
illegal closure imposed by IOF on the civilian population in the Gaza Strip[3]. Download the report here. [1] During closure period, hundreds of students were not able to travel abroad for education. About 500 students could travel after severe suffering in the past two years. [2] In addition to students' suffering, the comprehensive siege and closure of border crossings affect all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip. For more information on the impact of the siege and closure of border crossings imposed on the Gaza Strip, see reports issued by PCHR on state of the Gaza Strip border crossings on PCHR's website: http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/index.php?option=com_conten&view=category&id=638Itemid=227 [3] The closure has been imposed continuously since June 2007. It is a form of collective punishment, in explicit violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The far-reaching impact of the closure makes the attainment of human rights in the Gaza Strip an impossibility. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites |
