Communicating Under Curfew
A Unique & First of its Kind Distant Learning Project in the History of
Palestine
The experience of Bethlehem with invasions and 24-hour curfews has taken its
toll on the regular attendance of schools by students, especially in 2002 and
the early part of 2003. This resulted in the deterioration of the educational
process significantly. For example, the students of the Dar al-Kalima Model
School have lost around three months of schooling during 2002 alone. The fact
that the children experienced difficulty in getting to and back from school has
inspired the International Center of Bethlehem to seek a solution that would
make students’ access to their teachers and their studies more regular and less
interrupted. Hence, the idea of the Distance Learning project was born.
The ICB undertook an innovative and critical project that made it possible for
the students of Dar al-Kalima Model School, the Evangelical Lutheran School in
Beit Sahour and Talitha Kumi to continue their education unhindered by the
curfews. The project entailed setting-up of a communications system to
facilitate distance learning so that the students and teachers can be in
contact. As such, the physical barriers imposed arbitrarily on the students
attempting to reach their classrooms can no longer stop them from getting
educated.
The Distant Learning project was built on the success of an already existing
project, namely the Bethlehem-on-Line project. Each student became part of
different relevant e-groups through his/her assigned e-mail account. Teachers
have the responsibility of guiding the students through the educational material
and through the discussion groups emerging from each e-group. Technical support
is provided by the ICB to offer solutions for the technical problems that may
arise.
The project, which involved installation of servers and modems capable of
handling the large number of users, meant that the ICB had to become an internet
provider as well in order to offer the students and teachers cheap internet
service to enable them to participate in the program, given the deteriorating
economic situation of the Bethlehem are residents. This way, each student has an
internet access at home 24 hours/day for only one US$/month whereas the same
service is offered by other internet providers for 25$/month. So far almost 650
students are getting their internet access through the ICB and are able to
communicate even under curfew. Our mission is not to let the Israeli occupation
drive us into hopelessness but rather overcome all the hurdles through
creativity, determination and innovation.
To prepare the teachers for this new method of teaching and to enable them to
carry out this project successfully, the ICB is offering intensive training
program for the teachers on the Internet and e-communications. The ICB was now
invited to replicate this innovative project at other schools throughout
Palestine. We would like to thank our friends from the USA and Germany for their
support to make this project a reality.