Education in East Jerusalem ― Occupation, Political Power, and Struggle

Education in East Jerusalem gives a voice to the residents of East Jerusalem, addressing educational issues and revealing implicit layers in Israeli policy and attitude affecting the education system. In this close examination of school life under occupation, the book presents criticism of the system from within, and calls for teachers to prioritize pupils’ needs.

Uncovering a complex daily reality experienced in schools by principals, teachers and pupils, this book presents new findings, focusing on system-internal properties which manifest the macro effects inside the microsystem. The author draws on field studies and content analysis to show a need for educational action and suggest ample room for improvement. This study reveals that there is a significant relationship between the failures of the education system in East Jerusalem and the strategies implemented by the state, and outlines the responsibilities of the state.

This book will be of great interest to academics, researchers, and postgraduate students in the fields of educational policy, sociology of education, and Middle East studies.

Samira Alayan is Senior Lecturer and Researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Lecturer at David Yellin Teacher College. Her field of research has included education in conflict societies, textbooks, and identity, as well as women and gender roles in the Middle East.