2004 Progress Report

1. Programs in support of Dar Al-Aytam Schools:

Dar Al-Aytam Schools (for boys) lack resources of primary education and have weak teaching and learning mechanisms. Part of the reason behind such problems is the fact that these schools are spread across different campuses and students must change locations every few years. This situation makes it impossible to provide a suitable learning environment for the students. Also, the constant absence of teachers coming from the West Bank -due to various checkpoints along the way- prevents them from finishing the set curriculum; this problem has resulted in an increasing number of students who do not have basic reading, writing and mathematical skills which is considered to be one of the reasons behind school drop-outs.

In order to save Dar Al-Aytam Schools in Jerusalem which is considered to be the only boys’ school that follows the Awqaf Department in the city, the Foundation sees a great importance in concentrating on these schools in particular so as to raise the learning experience and bring it up to par. This was and continues to be done by following certain programs that mean to provide a suitable learning environment and developing the schools’ infrastructure and by:

On the one hand, renovating buildings and providing the resources necessary for such an environment. On the other hand, by raising qualifications of teachers and training them and providing competent supervisors as well.

The foundation has:

Dar Al-Aytam Al-Islamieh ‘C’ school:

Dar Al Aytam C near St. George School in Jerusalem, serves 192 male students (grades 1-4).

  • Provided sports utilities.
  • Established a library.
  • Improved Arabic language learning programs and helping students acquire reading and writing skills.

Dar Al-Aytam Al-Islamieh ‘A’ school:

Dar Al Aytam “A” School located in wadi Al Jouz – Jerusalem, serves 263 male students (grades 5-8).

  • Prepared a computer lab.
  • Established a library at the main school’s campus.
  • Provided sports utilities.
  • Improved Arabic language learning programs and helping students acquire reading and writing skills.

Dar Al Aytam AL-Thory’ school:

AL-Thory’ school located in Al Thory, serves 212 students (gardes1-10)

  • Provided sports utilities
  • Provided a computer, printer and copier

2. Programs in support of exemplary schools:

These programs are specified for ten of the Awqaf schools at which
Administrations, teachers and buildings are considered to be at a good level. Nonetheless, these schools lack many different resources and programs to help improve their efficiency. Therefore, the Foundation has introduced the following programs to further improve these types of schools:

Objectives:

  1. To improve the capabilities of the staff in providing proper educational environment.
  2. To improve the educators skills.
  3. To develop teaching techniques in the Arabic and English languages as well as in Math and Science.
  4. To develop the schools’ infrastructure and equipment to better serve the educational needs of students and teachers.
  5. To involve students in extracurricular activities.

Two exemplary schools that the Foundation has applied its programs to in 2004 are:

1) Al-fatah Al-Laji'a High School.
2) Jabal Al-Mokabber School.
3) Arawda Al haditha school.

  • Improving faculty qualifications:Training teachers, parents and volunteers for a minimum of 76 hours for dealing with students with learning difficulties.
  • Adding a weekly swimming lesson for fourth-graders.

Al-Fatah Al-Laji'a School's Project:

Development includes:

  • Safety procedures were taken concerning electrical wirings.
  • Procedures concerning health and the environment which resulted in health hazards as construction was done in classrooms and administrative rooms while holding large numbers of students and staff. Also construction was done to create ventilation in three classrooms specifically.
  • Developing educational facilities which included providing every classroom with a new blackboard and storage facilities.
  • Painting and flooring the hallways and classrooms, reconstructing window panes, and adding paneling in all classrooms.
  • improving faculty qualifications: Teacher training: teachers were trained in helping students with learning difficulties for at least 76 hours.

Extracurricular activities:

  1. Music and Dabkeh lessons.
  2. Theater classes.
  3. Intensive classes in certain subjects for students in need of them.

Al-Rawda Al-Hadeetha School's Project:

Development includes:

  1. Renovation of buildings.
  2. Installing air-conditioning units in the administrative offices.
  3. Restoration of the cafeteria.
  4. Expansion of playground.
  5. Restoration of restrooms.
  6. Renewal of the computer lab.

Programs:

  • Adding music lessons.
  • Developing science-concentrated programs.

3. Programs to motivate exceptional students:

2004 Award: is an award given to students who rank highest among their peers in their final year of high school or their Tawjihi year. In 2004 it was given to 46 students whom had received the ten highest scores in their Tawjihi exams in the Academic stream and ten highest in the scientific stream, the first highest scorers in the commercial stream and the first highest scorer in the industrial stream. The award itself is a small yet significant amount of money.