ANERA Builds a New School

 

The 11th grade dabkeh celebration dance outside the school.

The 11th grade dabkeh celebration dance outside the school.

Students in their newly renovated classroom.
Students in their newly renovated classroom.

in the West Bank Village of Al Libban Al Gharbi

Teachers and students alike were delighted to enter their brand new school this term in Al-Libban Al Gharbi village. The three-storey building has 11 classrooms, a science and computer lab, an arts and crafts room and a playground to accommodate up to 300 students.

ANERA built Al Libban Al-Gharbi Boys’ School in coordination with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and with USAID funding through the Emergency Water and Sanitation and Other Infrastructure (EWAS II) Program. The $1 million project provided some 6,200 days of work. Twenty workers were onsite every day.

The new school has also eased the crowding in Al-Libban Al Gharbi’s only coeducational school, which could no longer accommodate the village’s growing student population.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony October 15, Deputy Minister of Education Mohamed Abu Zeid said the idea of constructing a new school for the village came in response to the urgent need to resolve the problem of classroom congestion and shortages. Mr. Abu Zeid pointed out that the dream of the village’s residents now has been achieved, thanks to the concerted efforts of local and international institutions and proper planning to improve the educational situation in rural areas.

During the inauguration festivities, the head of Al-Libban Al-Gharbi Village Council Ghassan Salem expressed his thanks to USAID and ANERA and added his hopes for office equipment and computers to help students develop useful skills for the future. His wish will come true. Deputy Education Minister Abu Zeid assured Mr. Salem that the Ministry will provide the needed equipment and computers.

ANERA Country Director Ken Lizzio underscored the school’s contribution to building a better society for Palestinian youngsters. “In my opinion, it is of vital importance because educating young boys produces young men, men who are able to think critically and act self-reliantly.”

Read more about ANERA's school infrastructure work >>

Read more about the Emergency Water Sanitation and Other Infrastructure Program (EWASII) >>

Date modified: October 2010