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Who We Are

Schools are one of the most powerful tools to mitigate extremist influences. They are key to achieving the tolerant and open-minded societies of the future. But they can also be…

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Making a Difference

Reports

IMPACT-se researches school textbooks, teachers’ guides, and curricula to assess whether young people are being educated to accept Others—be it their neighbors, minorities…

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IMPACT World Focus

New Zealand – Stuff -- August 6, 2022 – The Unrecognized Crisis of Arts Education in New Zealand Kenya – KNA -- August 6, 2022 – Womens’ Initiative Boosts Girls’ Education Cyprus – World Akkam -- August 5, 2022 – Children’s Education 50 Years Behind, Says Scientist Central Asia – RFERL -- August 5, 2022 – Put To The Test: The Challenges Of Higher Education In Tajikistan And Uzbekistan Iran – IranWire -- August 4, 2022 – Baha’i Students Barred from University in Latest Intake as Crackdown Intensifies The Namibia – Namibian -- August 4, 2022 – Mistakes Made With Education Says Former PM Israel – CTech -- August 4, 2022 – Opinion: Israel’s Educational Vision Desperately Needs a Digital Revolution Saudi Arabia – The New Arab -- August 3, 2022 – Turkish Schools to Reopen in Saudi Arabia as Relations Improve UK – Mirror -- August 3, 2022 – Opinion: Britain’s Education System Is Failing Disabled Children and Teenagers South Africa – Sowetan -- August 3, 2022 – Bilingual Education Can Work in Schools: Here’s How Australia – The Sydney Morning Herald -- August 3, 2022 – Lift School Age to Six to Put Students on More Even Footing, Says Education Minister USA – GT -- August 2, 2022 – Opinion: Making Cloud Environments Work for Education Fiji – The Fiji Times -- August 2, 2022 – Opinion: Compulsory Moral Education China – EastAsiaForum -- August 2, 2022 – China’s Vocational Education Woes Zimbabwe – UNESCO (via Reliefweb) -- August 1, 2022 – Radio Lessons a Critical Tool for Continuing Education USA – JWeekly -- August 1, 2022 – The Perils of California Textbooks That Teach Jews Are White Israel – Haaretz -- August 1, 2022 – Israel’s Education Ministry Updates Math Program in Schools for the First Time in 30 Years UK (Wales) – Shropshire Star -- August 1, 2022 – Ambitious Updated Welsh Language Education Strategy Aims to Take Language to English Speaking Areas South Africa – Mail&Guardian -- August 1, 2022 – Rural Partnerships Boost for Math and Science Education Turkey – The Scotsman -- July 31, 2022 – Teaching Refugee Children in Their Own Schools ‘Gives Them Hope That They Will Return to Their Country’ USA – Forbes -- July 31, 2022 – Majority Of Americans Rate Online Education Same Or Better Than In-Person Algeria – BBC -- July 31, 2022 – Algerian Leader in Bold Move to Promote English in Junior School Israel – The Jerusalem Post -- July 30, 2022 – Israel‘s Schools Are Bad at Teaching—and It’s the Teachers’ Fault World – The Jordan Times -- July 30, 2022 – Opinion: Gender-Equal Education Is About More Than Access Yemen – Globe Echo -- July 29, 2022 – A Houthi Measure Deprives Thousands of Children in Yemen of Education Turkey – BalkanInsight -- July 28, 2022 – Turkish Court Backs Parents’ Objection to School Religion Classes Pakistan – The International News -- July 28, 2022 – Call to Enforce Law on Girls’ Education Israel – The Times of Israel -- July 28, 2022 – Education Minister Revokes Licenses of East Jerusalem Schools for Incitement Somalia – Trocaire -- July 27, 2022 – Severe Drought in Somalia Having a Catastrophic Effect on Children’s Education Saudi Arabia – Arab News -- July 27, 2022 – Saudi Education Ministry Adopts Plan for Students’ Return to Classroom South Sudan – LWF -- July 26, 2022 – Expanding Education for Children With Disabilities in South Sudan Pakistan – Dawn -- July 26, 2022 – Pakistan Offers Virtual Educational Facilities to Afghan Students Egypt – Egypt Today -- July 25, 2022 – Science, Math to Be Taught in English Language at Egyptian Public Schools Turkey – Nordic Monitor -- July 25, 2022 – Turkish Public School Textbook Promotes Armed Jihad Kenya – Transcontinental Times -- July 25, 2022 – How Home Schooling Platform is Changing Educational Narrative Uganda/South Sudan – The Independent (Uganda) -- July 25, 2022 – Access to Education in Armed Conflict Zones Remains a Dream for Ugandan and South Sudanese Children Afghanistan – UNI -- July 24, 2022 – Closure of Girl’s School in Afghanistan Temporary, Not Permanent, Says Taliban Turkey – Cyprus Mail -- July 24, 2022 – Youth Camps in Turkey ‘Indoctrinating Children’ Nigeria – The Nation (Nigeria) -- July 23, 2022 – Breaking Barriers to Girls’ Education in the North Israel – The Jerusalem Post -- July 22, 2022 – Israel’s Teachers, Education Crisis: A Look at the Struggle Turkey – Daily Sabah -- July 22, 2022 – Turkey Condemns Greece for Closing More Minority Schools Australia – J-Wire -- July 22, 2022 – Australian Teachers Take Firsthand Look at Israeli Education Innovations Africa – Brookings -- July 21, 2022 – Riding to School: How Bicycles Are Changing Education for Girls in Rural Africa Israel (East Jerusalem) – CBN -- July 21, 2022 – Viral Video Shows Palestinian Students Acting Out Murder of Jews in School Play Argentina – The Jerusalem Post -- July 21, 2022 – Latin American Education Conference Attended by 1500 Jewish Teachers Pakistan – UCA News -- July 21, 2022 – Pakistan Church Seeks Roll Back of ‘Islamized’ School Curriculum Cyprus – Cyprus Mail -- July 20, 2022 – Education Minister Defends ‘Improved’ Education System USA – The Washington Free Beacon -- July 19, 2022 – Less Than Half of San Francisco Students Are High-School Ready. More Than a Fourth Are Chronically Absent Israel – The Times of Israel -- July 19, 2022 – Reformers Want Schools to Stop Churning out Arabic Students Who Can’t Speak Arabic Africa – Mirage -- July 18, 2022 – African Leaders Launch Education Plus Initiative Canada – The Conversation -- July 18, 2022 – Outdoor Education Has Psychological, Cognitive and Physical Health Benefits for Children South Africa – IOL -- July 18, 2022 – Mandela‘s Dream of Equal Education for All Can Be Achieved: Teacher’s Union Malaysia – The Star -- July 17, 2022 – Opinion: Education Meets the Metaverse Turkey – Al-Monitor -- July 16, 2022 – Syrian Children in Turkey Lose Touch With Arabic Language Ghana – GhanaMMA -- July 16, 2022 – President Reaffirms Committment to Quality Education UK – The Conversation -- July 15, 2022 – Major Challenges Facing Britain’s Education System After the Pandemic Yemen – Arabian Business -- July 14, 2022 – Investing in Education to Empower Yemeni Youth USA – New York Post -- July 14, 2022 – Americans’ Faith in Public Education Nears Record Lows: Poll UAE – Khaleej Times -- July 14, 2022 – First BA Philosophy and Ethics Program in Arab Region Launched in UAE Kenya – Capital News -- July 14, 2022 – Education Reforms Key to Revitalizing Kenya’s Economy: Economist Afghanistan – La Prensa Latina -- July 13, 2022 – Afghan Girls Deprived of Secondary Education for 300 Days Under Taliban Philippines – Manila Standard -- July 13, 2022 – Newly Elected President Marcos Backs Curriculum Review to Fix Job Mismatch Israel – Haaretz -- July 12, 2022 – Israel to Train Arab Teachers to Work in Hebrew-speaking Schools World – The Conversation -- July 11, 2022 – Virtual Reality Can Support and Enhance Outdoor Environmental Education USA – The Washington Times -- July 11, 2022 – Education in Values, Quality of Outcomes Drive Growth in Catholic Schools, Advocates Say UK (Northern Ireland) – NewsLetter -- July 10, 2022 – Protestant Churches Express Concern for Protection of Religious Education UNRWA/PA – The Jerusalem Post -- July 9, 2022 – UNRWA Palestinian Textbooks Promote Antisemitism, Hate and Violence: IMPACT-Se World – Forbes -- July 8, 2022 – Education’s Global Shift: How Data-Driven Technology Is Helping Schools Define The Future MENA – Christianity Today -- July 8, 2022 – The Surge in Arab Christian Seminary Studies Israel – Haaretz -- July 8, 2022 – Israel’s Education System Revolutionized Its Approach to Transgender Students UNRWA – UNRWA -- July 8, 2022 – UNRWA Reaffirms Commitment to UN Values in Educating Palestine Refugee Children India – The Times of India -- July 7, 2022 – British Education System Meant to Create ‘Servant Class’ in India: PM Modi USA – USA Today -- July 6, 2022 – Opinion: Arizona Puts Parents in Control of Education USA – The New York Times -- July 6, 2022 – With a Culture War Raging Around Education, Where Does Art School Fit In?

Monitor the World

Recent Reports

Doha Skyline through windows

Review of Changes and Remaining Problematic Content in 2021–2022 Qatari Textbooks

IMPACT-se’s latest review of the Qatari curriculum evaluates changes made in fall and spring semester textbooks for 2021–22. Over the last two years, Qatar’s textbooks have slowly improved with adjustments made toward moderation, including lessons on tolerance and racial discrimination. Significant progress was observed in removing antisemitic and anti-Christian content as well as examples of violent jihad. While the curriculum still disproportionately focuses on Israel, the hostile tone is lessened. Other problematic content remains, including antisemitic material, violent interpretations of jihad, hateful material against infidels and polytheists, demonization of Israel, and rejection of Arab-Israeli normalization.

Riyadh-TOI

Review of Changes and Remaining Problematic Content in Saudi Textbooks 2021–22
IMPACT-se has released its 2022 annual update on Saudi textbooks, depicting an overall trend of improvement following major reforms since 2020. Whereas only a decade ago, focus was put on encouraging students to prepare for jihad and martyrdom, the majority of references to violent jihad justifying and praising violence and murder on behalf of the Prophet Muhammad have now been removed from the textbooks. And while some problematic content such as negative depictions of Jews, Zionism and Christians remain or have even been made worse, others, particularly instances of the kind of antisemitism based on modern European tropes, have largely been removed.

The Emirati Curriculum 2016–21, Grades 1–12—Selected Examples
This IMPACT-se report provides a list of 134 selected examples from 220 textbooks in the United Arab Emirates’ national curriculum, between 2016–21. The examples illustrate the findings of our latest research report, “When Peace Goes to School: The Emirati Curriculum 2016-2021,” presenting lessons on peace, tolerance, and cooperation with the world and non-nationals, which are taught to be closely associated with prosperity and national identity. The language and moral education programs especially encourage cultural diversity, curiosity, and happiness. Additionally, the Abraham Accords are taught, and anti-Israeli material has been moderated. The research did not find antisemitism or incitement to violence, and UNESCO guidelines for peace and tolerance are generally met.

UAE Flag, Skyline

WHEN PEACE GOES TO SCHOOL: The Emirati Curriculum 2016–21
This IMPACT-se report evaluates the UAE’s national curriculum for the 2021–22 academic school year. Among the findings: The curriculum teaches that prosperity and national pride are closely associated with peace and tolerance. There is a realistic approach to peace and security with a priority on peacemaking. Language and moral education programs encourage cultural diversity, curiosity and happiness. Students prepare for a highly competitive world and are taught positive thinking and well-being. The Abraham Accords are taught and anti-Israeli material has been moderated. UNESCO guidelines for peace and tolerance are generally met.

Qatar-3 Textbooks_pic

Review of Changes and Remaining Problematic Content in Qatari Textbooks 2021-22 Fall Editions Grades 1–12
This new IMPACT-se report evaluates changes made in the Qatari fall semester textbooks for 2021–22. The report found that the Qatar curriculum continues a trend of slow improvement since our reports in August 2020 and June 2021, by removing additional disturbing and unacceptable passages previously criticized in IMPACT-se’s reports. However, passages that demonize Jews, praise martyrdom, and blame holy faiths for corrupting holy texts remain. Although some changes are suggestive of positive movement, a great deal of improvement is necessary to align the curriculum with international standards of Peace and Tolerance.

Saudi Textbooks Show Dramatic Improvements

A FURTHER STEP FORWARD: Review of Changes and Remaining Problematic Content in Saudi Textbooks 2021–22
This latest IMPACT-se report on the Saudi Curriculum shows further dramatic improvements to Saudi Arabia’s school textbooks, continuing the significant changes seen in mid-2020 and documented in IMPACT-se’s last Saudi textbook report. Over the last year, textbooks have been moderated in several key areas. The greatest changes have been made to lessons dealing with Jews, Christians, non-believers, and violent jihad; twenty-eight lessons featuring demonization of the Other and religious intolerance were removed or heavily modified. While problematic material remains in Saudi textbooks, these represent profound changes in these categories.

Shadow of Rulers Over Doha

UNDERSTANDING QATARI AMBITION:  The Curriculum 2016–20 (Updated)
This updated IMPACT-se report continues to focus on Qatar’s school curriculum for grades 1–12. The study builds upon previous IMPACT-se research within the prism of UNESCO standards and other UN and international declarations, recommendations and documents relating to education for peace and tolerance. Our review determined that the Qatari curriculum does not yet meet those international standards.  Textbooks teach Qatari children to accept others different than themselves and advocate for peace while at the same time echoing antisemitic canards and reinforcing the Qatari regime’s support for Islamist terror organizations. Despite a slight movement away from radical jihadism, much remains. Nevertheless, Qatar’s curriculum remains heavily influenced by Western educators—displaying the Qatari gift for embracing contradictions.

PA_Selected Examples 2020-21-Pic

The 2020–21 PALESTINIAN SCHOOL CURRICULUM GRADES 1–12—SELECTED EXAMPLES
This updated May 2021 IMPACT-se study analyzed textbooks used for the 2020-21 Palestinian curriculum (West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and UNRWA) and includes selected examples from the research of 222 textbooks. Of those, 105 textbooks have not changed at all and remain as they were in 2019. Essentially, there were that no substantive positive changes made to the current Palestinian curriculum. Textbooks remain openly antisemitic and continue to encourage violence, jihad and martyrdom while peace is still not taught as preferable or even possible.

Houthi Mag. Covers

REVIEW OF HOUTHI EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN YEMEN_2015–19
The Ansar Allah Houthis, have penetrated the mainstream Yemeni education system as part of a campaign to spread their influence over the region. This exclusive IMPACT-se report reviews materials produced by the Houthis for use in its network of summer camps and extra-curricular classes as well as take-home materials including a monthly children’s “educational” magazine called Jihad. As an Iranian proxy, the Houthi materials mimic much of the Khomeinist rhetoric of that regime and represent some of the more egregious violations of UNESCO standards of peace and tolerance among current Middle Eastern education.

Attaturk over Erdogan's Shoulder

THE ERDOGAN REVOLUTION IN THE TURKISH CURRICULUM TEXTBOOKS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made significant changes to Turkey’s state-approved school textbooks since taking power in 2003. This report is the fourth undertaken by IMPACT-se into the Turkish curriculum. We have identified a marked deterioration in Turkish textbooks since our last review in 2016, in regards to meeting UNESCO defined standards of peace and tolerance. On the contrary, textbooks have been weaponized in Erdogan’s attempts to Islamize Turkish society and to hark back to a nostalgic age of Turkish domination.

2020-21 UNRWA Booklets

REVIEW OF UNRWA-PRODUCED STUDY MATERIALS IN THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES
PA school textbooks have consistently shown a systematic insertion of violence, martyrdom and jihad across all grades and subjects. Yet, it is this material that is taught in UNRWA-run schools throughout the Palestinian Territories of the Gaza Strip and West Bank as well as Jerusalem. Our research shows that UNRWA, as a UN organization, knowingly produces and teaches material in its Gaza Strip and West Bank schools that are rife with problematic content that contradicts stated UN values. UNRWA’s lack of transparency to address such problematic issues make it impossible to evaluate the effectiveness of any efforts it claims to have made.  Updated Research of post-November material shows hate remains.

Saudi Review Cover image

REVIEW OF SAUDI TEXTBOOKS 2020–21
This follow-up report of Saudi 2020-21 textbooks by IMPACT-se shows that while many problematic examples have been removed from the curriculum, some still remain. The removal of the problematic content however, should certainly be seen as a significant improvement and an encouraging development, representing a step toward moderation. Our sense is that the Saudi kingdom, along with some other countries in the region, is gradually moving in a direction that could bring it in line with UNESCO-derived standards of peace and tolerance—contingent on whether the remaining issues are addressed.

UAE_Moral Education-2

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES—Moral Education Textbooks
This preliminary IMPACT-se report focuses on the United Arab Emirates’ “Moral Education” curriculum, taught in all Emirates public and private schools, from grades 1-12. The research covered the textbooks and teacher guides that make up the “Character and Morality” section of the UAE curriculum, measured against IMPACT-se’s UNESCO-derived standards of peace and tolerance. While the current research covers only this limited spectrum of the UAE curriculum, it is noteworthy that the content goes a long way to incorporate the values of peace and tolerance into a traditional education system. This stand-alone course is unique in the region and may reflect UAE’s emerging leadership in the reform of textbooks.

Painting of Doha

UNDERSTANDING QATARI AMBITION—The Curriculum 2016–20
IMPACT-se’s interim review of 238 textbooks of the Qatari curriculum for the calendar years 2016-20, used international standards for peace and tolerance. The curriculum appears to be in in a change-mode, moving in a direction from jihadi radicalism toward open engagement with the world. While somewhat less radical than previous versions, the process of moderation is in its infancy. Some particularly offensive material has been removed after decades of radical propaganda in Qatari schools, but while heavily influenced by Western educators, serious issues remain regarding peace and tolerance.  Interim Report   Exec Sum  Centrality of Antisemitism in the Qatari Curriculum  Problematic Content in the Qatari Curriculum_Selected Examples

Picture of Winding Road in Saudi Arabia

THE WINDING ROAD TO A NEW IDENTITY                Saudi Arabian Curriculum 2016-19
The Saudi curriculum, at this stage, should be viewed as a reflection of the efforts being made to transform an exclusively traditionalist Islamic society into one that incorporates more Western economic values and its pre-Islamic heritage. However while the curriculum tries to evolve with such inherent contradictory elements, the radical orthodoxy of the Wahhabis remains dominant. The narrowing of the gap between the kingdom’s modernization goals and their practical application—both within the curriculum and throughout Saudi society—is in the beginning stages of a work in progress.

A Tajihi Exam (Culture)

PALESTINIAN CURRICULUM PUT TO THE TEST     The General Certificate of High School Examination in Palestine (Tawjihi)
This report studies the twenty-six tests comprising the Palestinian 2019 Tajihi Matriculation Exam which tests grade 12 material from the Palestinian curriculum. The exam was analyzed according to IMPACT-se’s UNESCO-derived standards for peace and tolerance in school education.  IMPACT-se’s finding is that many of the final exams are so designed that students must study problematic content that does not meet international standards for peace and tolerance.

YTS_Peace and Conflict in Israeli Textbooks

PEACE AND CONFLICT IN ISRAEL STATE-APPROVED TEXTBOOKS: 2000–2018
The article describes the peace and conflict educational approaches found in the Jewish-Israeli curricula between the years 2000–17, and extracts the dominant themes and messages towards Muslim, Arab and Palestinian “others.”  Study findings indicate that current Israeli textbooks do not contain any overt racism or incitement against Palestinians. However, ethnocentric perceptions and victim mentality are two themes that still dominate curricular discourse and are counterproductive to peace education goals.

Picture of Rabin, Clinton and Arafat: Removed

THE REJECTION OF PEACE: References to Peace Agreements, Israel, and Jews, Now Removed from PA Curriculum
A report on selected positive content about peace, relations with Israel, and Jewish historical presence previously in the Palestinian curriculum between 2000 and 2016, now removed from the 2016–19 curriculum. Although some of the positive examples were removed even before 2016, the “new” PA curriculum represents a quantum leap backward toward radicalizing the textbooks—and unfortunately— Palestinian children.

Chart showing number of violent references in Palestinian textbooks by grade

THE NEW PALESTINIAN CURRICULUM: BY THE NUMBERS Quantitative Analysis of the Current Palestinian Ministry of Education Curriculum
A quantitative analysis of textbooks from the current Palestinian Ministry of Education curriculum, applying UNESCO-derived standards of peace and tolerance.  Additionally, in this report, we define Problematic Content as: violent connotations, incitement to violence, hatred of the Other, and radical, inappropriate or disturbing content. The accompanying graph from the report displays by grade, the number of violent references included in each textbook.

The Amman Message

JORDAN’S NEW CURRICULUM: The Challenge of Radicalism
IMPACT-se evaluates a range of topics: moderating the education of Islam for students (with emphasis on diversity and openness); layers of national identity; the idea of good citizenship, which includes gender, economic and environmental responsibility; Jordan’s approach toward the West Bank and the Palestinians; unresolved internal conflict toward its peace with Israel and compassion toward the disadvantaged.

TWO LANGUAGES ONE COUNTRY: Turkey’s Elective Kurdish Curriculum

The Kurdish textbooks appear at first glance to be simple and straightforward, no more than very little elective training in a minority population’s mother tongue . . .  a conversation about this curriculum is worthwhile because the question of Kurdish education in Turkey remains unanswered.

WASATIA EDUCATION: Exploring the Palestinian Curriculum

This booklet suggests Wasatia Education for the Palestinian educational system using the methodologies of both IMPACT-se and the WASATIA Academic Institute. It explores the present Palestinian school textbooks and identifies areas where the curriculum incites, demonizes and delegitimizes the Other while proposing concepts and values to allow for a future of coexistence, tolerance and prosperity.

THE NEW PALESTINIAN CURRICULUM: 2018-19 Update–Grades 1-12

IMPACT-se’s latest research portrays a Palestinian curriculum that accommodates the full spectrum of extreme nationalist and Islamist ideologies in both Gaza and the West Bank, including anti-Semitic motifs amid themes of continuous struggle. heroism  and martyrdom.

SYRIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY: Reformulating School Textbooks during the Civil War

For seven consecutive years a brutal civil war has been raging in Syria. This study of the Syrian curriculum examines the updated 2017–18 education contents in the areas controlled by the Assad regime while the civil war con-tinues to rage. It offers a unique look at a people in the midst of a mortal crisis.

REFORM or RADICALIZATION: PA 2017 Curriculum [A Preliminary Review]

With the first full reform of the Palestinian curriculum since 2000, IMPACT-se, in its second of three reports, covers sixty-six textbooks from the new PA curriculum of 2017–18 for Grades 5–11. Further research will provide a full assessment of the new curriculum covering Grades 1–12.  Selected Examples (Updated)

Image: Haredi Family

HAREDI EDUCATION IN ISRAEL: REINFORCING THE BARRICADES

IMPACT-se researches textbooks used in the Haredi curricula to promote a unique and separate cultural identity while  keeping  contact with  Israeli culture to a minimum. Though it fails to meet all of the UNESCO standards, Haredi education nevertheless offers some unique characteristics and advantages worth examining.

PALESTINIAN ELEMENATARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM 2016–17: RADICALIZATION AND REVIVAL OF THE PLO PROGRAM

This IMPACT-se report examines the 2016–17 Palestinian Authority school curriculum, focusing on elementary school grades 1-4.  To a greater extent than the 2014–15 textbooks, the curriculum teaches students to be expendable martyrs, rejects negotiations, demonizes and denies the existence of Israel and focuses on a “return” to an exclusively Palestinian homeland.

NEIGHBORS AND RIVALS: CHINA IN TURKEY’S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

In July 2015, protesters throughout Turkey burned China’s flag, along with effigies of the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. On the same day, a group of Turkish Ultra-nationalists and Islamists gathered in central Istanbul to protest the alleged restrictions on Uyghur religious freedom in China.

TURKEY’S CURICULUM UNDER ERDOGAN: THE EVOLUTION OF TURKISH IDENTITY
This well-timed report monitors Turkish school textbooks published since the AKP’s (Justice and Development Party) rise to power from 2002–15, with special emphasis on recent years (2013–15). The report examined 117 school textbooks covering subjects in the humanities, science, religious instruction and civics.

PALESTINIANS IN ISRAELI TEXTBOOKS: 2016 UPDATE
This timely report updates Impact’s analysis of the Israeli School Children current Israeli educational curriculum, particularly as it relates to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian educational process. It is based on the review of 123 state and state-religious textbooks, which were approved and recommended by the Israeli Ministry of Education through the 2017 school year.

More IMPACT Reports

IMPACT BRIEFS

Statement on UNRWA Response
July 21, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by IMPACT-se

In respect to UNRWA’s latest statement on our report reviewing UNRWA-branded school materials, labeled for use in 2022, below is an executive summary. Given that UNRWA chose to reach out in its statement to IMPACT-se for guidance on the reviewed material, we felt compelled to provide additional information. Although not within the scope of our […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Statement-on-UNRWA-Response.jpg 154 523 IMPACT-se https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png IMPACT-se2022-07-21 12:47:252022-07-21 12:48:04
TOI_The Tel Aviv municipality building is lit up with the word "Peace", in Hebrew, Arabic and English. September 15, 2020. PhotoPhoto by Miriam Alster/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** כיכר רבין ארצות הברית בחריין תל אביב איחוד האמירויות דגל ישראל הסכם שלום דגלים

Reformers Want Schools to Stop Churning out Arabic Students Who Can’t Speak Arabic

July 19, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by Carrie Keller-Lynn -- The Times of Israel

Early this year, an Arab lawmaker caused a stir by delivering a speech on the Knesset floor in Arabic. As Ra’am MK Walid Taha held forth on a controversial bill being considered, a right-wing parliamentarian assailed him, demanding that he speak Hebrew. Days later, another right-wing MK called for legislation mandating Hebrew in the plenum. […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Tel-Aviv-Municipality_Peace-in-Arabic.jpg 202 324 Carrie Keller-Lynn -- The Times of Israel https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Carrie Keller-Lynn -- The Times of Israel2022-07-19 11:36:342022-07-19 11:36:55Reformers Want Schools to Stop Churning out Arabic Students Who Can’t Speak Arabic
Syrian Children Dream of Education in Lebanon

A Forgotten Generation: Syrian Children Dream of Education in Lebanon

July 3, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by JRS

Amin and his family fled Syria ten years ago, when the conflict broke out. He was just a baby when they arrived to Jbeil, Lebanon. When he was seven, Amin first joined JRS’s activities. Today, at 10 years old, he attends the JRS learning support program at Nicolas Kluiters Centre (NKC) in the morning and […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Syrian-Children-Dream-of-Education-in-Lebanon.jpg 257 413 JRS https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png JRS2022-07-03 20:18:452022-07-03 20:19:16A Forgotten Generation: Syrian Children Dream of Education in Lebanon
A Case for Educational Justice in Africa

A Case for Educational Justice in Africa

June 13, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by Abdou Rahim Lema -- Mail&Guardian

Affo, 29, was born in a polygamous family comprising more than two dozen children. He is the second child to have obtained a high school degree but the only one to have gone to university. For his seven years at high school, he had to balance his studies with part-time jobs to pay tuition fees […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/A-Case-for-Educational-Justice-in-Africa.jpg 244 429 Abdou Rahim Lema -- Mail&Guardian https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Abdou Rahim Lema -- Mail&Guardian2022-06-13 20:00:412022-07-03 20:01:34A Case for Educational Justice in Africa
Afghan Girls Waiting for Mobile School

Mobile Schools Provide Hope for Afghan Children—Especially for Girls

May 24, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by EPA-EFE -- Gandhara

“Afghanistan’s education system has been devastated by more than three decades of sustained conflict. For many of the country’s children, completing primary school remains a distant dream—especially in rural areas and for girls—despite recent progress in raising enrollment.In the poorest and remote areas of the country, enrollment levels vary extensively and girls still lack equal […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Afghan-Girls-Waiting-for-Mobile-School.jpg 239 359 EPA-EFE -- Gandhara https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png EPA-EFE -- Gandhara2022-05-24 20:43:372022-05-25 21:21:25Mobile Schools Provide Hope for Afghan Children—Especially for Girls
Pakistani Buses Speed Women to Education, Jobs

New Bus Line Speeds Pakistani Women to Education, Jobs

May 6, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by Zofeen T. Ebrahim -- Thompson Reuters

Pakistani student Mah Jabeen credits a new public bus system in her home city with saving her from being stuck at her parents’ house doing chores – or even having to get married. Thanks to the Bus Rapid Transit system in the northwestern city of Peshawar, Ms. Jabeen said she had been able to continue […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/0506-PakistanBRT-.jpg 210 315 Zofeen T. Ebrahim -- Thompson Reuters https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Zofeen T. Ebrahim -- Thompson Reuters2022-05-06 21:16:322022-05-25 21:17:55New Bus Line Speeds Pakistani Women to Education, Jobs
Students attend a class at the beginning of the school year amid fears of the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Sanaa, Yemen

How Yemeni Parents Are Banding Together to Keep Their Kids in School

March 8, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by Abdulla Ali -- The New Humanitarian

Seven years into a deadly and devastating war, thousands of Yemeni parents are using what little they have left to fight for an untold victim of the country’s conflict: their childrens’ education. Ahmed Mahdi, 50, is one of them. The father of three drives a taxi in Yemen’s Houthi rebel-held capital city of Sana’a. He […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/TNH_Yemeni-Children-in-School-.jpg 234 350 Abdulla Ali -- The New Humanitarian https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Abdulla Ali -- The New Humanitarian2022-03-08 22:19:372022-04-03 22:20:17How Yemeni Parents Are Banding Together to Keep Their Kids in School
Philippine School Trolley

Trolley School Helps Philippine Children Keep Their Education on Track

February 26, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by ABC Australia

A brightly decorated wooden trolley rumbles down a little-used rail track in the southern Philippines carrying four young teachers—two on the front and two in the back—pushing it along with their feet. Kitted out with a whiteboard, colorful charts, and a stack of books, the tiny, mobile school slides along from village to village three […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Philippine-School-Trolley.jpg 242 366 ABC Australia https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png ABC Australia2022-02-26 12:28:402022-03-03 12:29:10Trolley School Helps Philippine Children Keep Their Education on Track

Huddled in Secret Schools, Afghan Girls Refuse to Give Up on Education

February 6, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by Christina Lamb -- The Sunday Times

Behind a yellow door in an alley blanketed by snow, 25 girls sit on the floor, huddled in coats and headscarves, in front of a white board. “What are you doing?” the teacher asks in English. “I am a student!” they chant in unison. Their plastic shoes that are piled outside the door are a […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png 0 0 Christina Lamb -- The Sunday Times https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Christina Lamb -- The Sunday Times2022-02-06 13:59:042022-02-06 16:22:44Huddled in Secret Schools, Afghan Girls Refuse to Give Up on Education
JP_The Emirati Curriculum_Bennett and MBZ (MS)

The Emirati School Curriculum: When Peace Goes to School

January 29, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by Marcus Sheff -- The Jerusalem Post (Opinion)

When President Isaac Herzog flies to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, marking the first official visit of an Israeli president to the Gulf state, he will be welcomed by the man who is arguably the Middle East’s most effective educational reformer. According to The New York Times, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/JP_The-Emirati-Curriculum_Bennett-and-MBZ-MS-.jpg 298 412 Marcus Sheff -- The Jerusalem Post (Opinion) https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Marcus Sheff -- The Jerusalem Post (Opinion)2022-01-29 20:40:202022-01-30 20:59:20The Emirati School Curriculum: When Peace Goes to School
JI_Arab Influencer Pushing Abraham Accords from UAE

The Arab Influencer Pushing the Abraham Accords From Abu Dhabi

January 19, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by Tamara Zieve -- The Circuit

At the age of 28, when Loay Alshareef, then a French language student from Saudi Arabia, stumbled into his homestay in Paris to discover he was surrounded by Stars of David—his instinct was to turn on his heels and find another family to stay with. “I didn’t feel comfortable at the beginning,” he told The […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/JI_Arab-Influencer-Pushing-Abraham-Accords-from-UAE.jpg 286 375 Tamara Zieve -- The Circuit https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Tamara Zieve -- The Circuit2022-01-19 20:11:312022-01-22 20:17:35The Arab Influencer Pushing the Abraham Accords From Abu Dhabi

Kurdish Education in Turkey: A Joint Responsibility

January 13, 2022/in Blog, Frontpage /by Dr. Eldad J. Pardo -- Modern Diplomat

Turkish elites often see Kurds as posing a mortal threat to their homeland’s territorial integrity. Kurdish elites often harbor pan-Kurdish dreams of their own. The rise to power of Erdogan’s Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2002 appeared to imply a watershed, bringing about a measure of cultural liberalization toward the Kurds. More Islam […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Modern-Diplomacy_Kurdish-Education-in-Turkey-classrom-.jpg 268 441 Dr. Eldad J. Pardo -- Modern Diplomat https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Dr. Eldad J. Pardo -- Modern Diplomat2022-01-13 16:30:002022-01-15 16:32:02Kurdish Education in Turkey: A Joint Responsibility

Arabic-Learning ‘Madrasa’ App Developed by Technion Students

December 24, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by JP Staff -- The Jerusalem Post

Students from the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science at the Technion recently developed a voice-recognition app for the “Madrasa” project to help people learn Arabic. Part of the Madrasa project—which advocates for better communication in Israeli society through spoken Arabic courses—the app includes a voice recognition feature that will allow tens of […]

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Egyptian Sunni School Boys (GettyImages)AFP via Getty Images

Egyptian Parliament Reopens Debate on Quran’s Place in the Curriculum

December 15, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by George Mikhail -- Al-Monitor

When the Egyptian Parliament recently considered a bill intended to support the use of Standard Arabic, the discussion grew heated between a a representative of Al-Azhar and a parliamentarian who objected to provisions about Quran memorization in primary school. Modern Standard Arabic is the formal dialect of the wider Arabic language, which there are now […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Egyptian-Sunni-School-Boys-GettyImages.jpg 469 778 George Mikhail -- Al-Monitor https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png George Mikhail -- Al-Monitor2021-12-15 22:00:342021-12-29 22:01:10Egyptian Parliament Reopens Debate on Quran’s Place in the Curriculum

Israelis Should Be Taught Arabic in Schools

November 17, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by JPost Editorial -- The Jerusalem Post

There’s no expression that better demonstrates the new peaks Arab-Israeli relations have hit in recent years than a “picture is worth a thousand words.” Just in the past month, Israeli officials and military forces were photographed alongside Arab counterparts. A major change was also seen in the diplomatic sphere, which might not have received the […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/JP_Israelis-Should-Be-Taught-Arabic-.jpg 256 360 JPost Editorial -- The Jerusalem Post https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png JPost Editorial -- The Jerusalem Post2021-11-17 14:09:302021-11-27 16:58:40Israelis Should Be Taught Arabic in Schools
The Conversation_AI and Student Coding Pic

Artificial Intelligence Is Getting Better at Writing, and Universities Should Worry About Plagiarism

November 5, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by Michael Mindzak & Sarah Elaine Eaton -- The Conversation

The dramatic rise of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlit concerns about the role of technology in exam surveillance—and also in student cheating. Some universities have reported more cheating during the pandemic, and such concerns are unfolding in a climate where technologies that allow for the automation of writing continue to improve. Over […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Conversation_AI-and-Student-Coding.jpg 254 380 Michael Mindzak & Sarah Elaine Eaton -- The Conversation https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Michael Mindzak & Sarah Elaine Eaton -- The Conversation2021-11-05 16:57:342021-11-27 16:58:46Artificial Intelligence Is Getting Better at Writing, and Universities Should Worry About Plagiarism
UN News_Helping Iraqi School Girls

‘It Will Help Me to Achieve My Dream’: Helping Iraqi Girls Stay in School

October 11, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by UN News

When COVID-19 closed schools in Basra, southern Iraq, the academic prospects for many schoolgirls were put at risk. The 2,570 primary school children from Basra’s Shatt al-Arab district who are involved in the trial project from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP), receive a cash stipend to support their education. […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/UN-News_Helping-Iraqi-School-Girls.jpg 495 767 UN News https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png UN News2021-10-11 21:28:482021-10-30 21:29:47‘It Will Help Me to Achieve My Dream’: Helping Iraqi Girls Stay in School
Dr. Anon Groiss-200x157

A Middle East Scholar’s Impressions of the George Eckert Institute Report on Palestinian Textbooks

October 1, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by Dr. Arnon Groiss

The Georg Eckert Institute for International Textbook Research recently completed its research of 174 Palestinian Authority textbooks and 16 teachers’ guides for 2017–20, grades 1-12, plus an additional seven textbooks published by the PA and modified by Israeli authorities for use in East Jerusalem schools. The research was initiated by the European Parliament upon requests […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Dr.-Anon-Groiss-200x157-1.jpg 157 200 Dr. Arnon Groiss https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Dr. Arnon Groiss2021-10-01 15:54:372021-10-30 21:29:10A Middle East Scholar’s Impressions of the George Eckert Institute Report on Palestinian Textbooks
The Economist_Travails of Teaching Arabic

The Travails of Teaching Arabs Their Own Language

September 18, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by The Economist

God, says the Qur’an, chose Arabic for his revelation because it is easy to understand. But many of the world’s 470 million Arabic-speakers beg to differ. According to a report by the World Bank, almost 60 percent of ten-year-olds in Arabic-speaking countries (and Iran) struggle to read and understand a basic text. Despite decades of […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Economist_Travails-of-Teaching-Arabic.jpg 217 333 The Economist https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png The Economist2021-09-18 19:56:042021-09-28 19:56:35The Travails of Teaching Arabs Their Own Language
WP_Returning to Shuttered Schools

As Most Students Return to Classrooms, Schools in Some Countries Have Been Shuttered for 18 Months Straight

September 13, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by Sammy Westfall -- WP

Students across much of the world are trading in Zoom widows for chalkboards, in a global moment of hope and apprehension. In some places, including parts of the United States, many school doors shut for a year and a half have swung open, even amid resurgent coronavirus outbreaks. In five countries—Bangladesh, Kuwait, the Philippines, Saudi […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/WP_Returning-to-Shuttered-Schools.jpg 208 315 Sammy Westfall -- WP https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Sammy Westfall -- WP2021-09-13 19:13:512021-09-28 19:14:39As Most Students Return to Classrooms, Schools in Some Countries Have Been Shuttered for 18 Months Straight
IMPACT-se Review of GEI PA Report_Image of Palestinian wielding slingshot

IMPACT-se Review: The Georg Eckert Institute Report on the Palestinian Curriculum

August 26, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by IMPACT-se

The 2021 Georg Eckert Institute for International Textbook Research report into Palestinian Authority textbooks is a welcome addition to the corpus of knowledge about the most recent iteration of the Palestinian national curriculum. Commissioned by the European Union, this report identifies many of the same systemic problems that other research institutes have brought to light […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/IMPACT-se-Review-of-GEI-PA-Report_Image-of-Palestinian-wielding-slingshot.jpg 545 669 IMPACT-se https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png IMPACT-se2021-08-26 19:26:152021-08-27 15:05:14IMPACT-se Review: The Georg Eckert Institute Report on the Palestinian Curriculum
BESA_Mideast Shapes_Doha Schoolchildren-Attend Exhibition (Vinod-Divakaran)

Through Education Middle East Powers Vie to Shape the Next Generation of Muslims

August 13, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by James M. Dorsey -- BESA

Education is emerging as a major flashpoint in competing visions of a future Muslim world. Rival concepts being instilled in the next generation are likely to shape what amounts to a battle for the soul of Islam. Reports published earlier this year by the Israel-based Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/BESA_Mideast-Shapes_Doha-Schoolchildren-Attend-Exhibition-Vinod-Divakaran.jpg 369 560 James M. Dorsey -- BESA https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png James M. Dorsey -- BESA2021-08-13 13:34:002021-08-29 21:11:32Through Education Middle East Powers Vie to Shape the Next Generation of Muslims

Girls’ Education ‘Worth Fighting For’, Malala Tells Education Summit

July 29, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by Sean Coughlan -- BBC News

“The world is facing a girls’ education crisis,” with more than 130 million girls missing out on school around the world, Malala Yousafzai has warned. “Their futures are worth fighting for,” the education campaigner told a global education summit in London. She said the recovery from the pandemic had to mean fair access to education. […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/BBC-Malala-Girls-Education.jpg 308 507 Sean Coughlan -- BBC News https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Sean Coughlan -- BBC News2021-07-29 22:57:502021-07-31 22:58:13Girls’ Education ‘Worth Fighting For’, Malala Tells Education Summit
VOA UNESCO, UNICEF-Urge School Reopenings

UNICEF, UNESCO Urge World Leaders to Reopen Schools

July 13, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by Voice of America

World leaders should prioritize reopening schools for in-person learning immediately in order to avoid a “generational catastrophe,” UNICEF and UNESCO said in a joint statement Monday. The organizations said that keeping schools closed to 156 million students in 19 countries, due to COVID-19, is causing potentially irreparable damage to child development. They also pointed out […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/VOA-UNESCO-UNICEF-Urge-School-Reopenings.jpg 238 376 Voice of America https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Voice of America2021-07-13 22:53:082021-07-31 22:53:46UNICEF, UNESCO Urge World Leaders to Reopen Schools
Chron of Higher Edu_Escaping Oblivion

Escaping Oblivion

June 24, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by Eric Hoover -- Chronicle of Higher Education

Nhial Deng couldn’t sleep. In late March the slender young man with deep-brown eyes lay under a low sheet-metal roof. He was thinking about a place he had never seen but often imagined. A famous bronze gate stood there, and soon he would know if he would one day walk through it. Long after midnight, […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Chron-of-Higher-Edu_Escaping-Oblivion.jpg 234 353 Eric Hoover -- Chronicle of Higher Education https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Eric Hoover -- Chronicle of Higher Education2021-06-24 20:27:352021-06-26 20:40:23Escaping Oblivion
NYT-Education Threat to Extremism-

Education Poses an Existential Threat to Extremism

May 15, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by Nicholas Kristof -- NYT

Lying in her hospital bed in Kabul, Afghanistan, having survived an extremist group’s bombing that killed more than 80 students at her school, a 17-year-old named Arifa was as determined as she was frightened. “I will continue my education, even if I’m afraid,” Arifa, who hopes to become a doctor, vowed to Richard Engel of […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/NYT-Education-Threat-to-Extremism-.jpg 314 451 Nicholas Kristof -- NYT https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Nicholas Kristof -- NYT2021-05-15 21:02:432021-05-26 21:03:13Education Poses an Existential Threat to Extremism
IPS-EducationCannontWait_Refugee Children

Refugee Children Explain How Education Helped Put Their Trauma Behind Them

May 4, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by Ed Holt -- IPS

Eighteen-year-old Chuol Nyakoach lives in the Nguenyyiel Refugee Camp in Gambella, Ethiopia. Chuol is grateful that despite the trauma she has already experienced in her young life, she is able to continue her education in the refugee camp. Learning has given her a reason to wake up every day. “My life has changed and ECW’s […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/IPS-EducationCannontWait_Refugee-Children.jpg 267 400 Ed Holt -- IPS https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Ed Holt -- IPS2021-05-04 20:54:362021-05-26 20:55:04Refugee Children Explain How Education Helped Put Their Trauma Behind Them
BESA_Turkish, not Saudi Textbooks

Turkish, Not Saudi, Schoolbooks Under Scrutiny

April 28, 2021/in Blog, Frontpage /by James M. Dorsey -- BESA

In a sign of the times, Turkish schoolbooks have replaced Saudi texts as the focus of criticism of supremacist and intolerant curricula in the Muslim world. According to a recently released analysis of 28 Turkish textbooks, that country’s education system, which was once a model of secularism that taught evolution, cultural openness, tolerance toward minorities, […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/BESA_Turkish-not-Saudi-Textbooks.jpg 420 560 James M. Dorsey -- BESA https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png James M. Dorsey -- BESA2021-04-28 20:20:592021-06-26 20:22:58Turkish, Not Saudi, Schoolbooks Under Scrutiny
Arab News_Yemeni children-Houthi materials-Houthi

Yemeni Teachers’ Union Slams Houthi Curriculum Takeover

April 15, 2021/in Blog, Uncategorized /by Christopher Hamill-Stewart -- Arab News

Yemen’s union of teachers has denounced the Iran-backed Houthi militia’s takeover of the country’s schools and curriculum, and accused Tehran of using the education system to pursue a “policy of cultural colonialism.” Yahya Al-Yinai, head of media at the Yemeni Teachers Syndicate, told the Daily Telegraph that the Houthis have made hundreds of changes to […]

https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/Arab-News_Yemeni-children-Houthi-materials-Houthi-.jpg 198 325 Christopher Hamill-Stewart -- Arab News https://www.impact-se.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/logo-IMPACT_SE.png Christopher Hamill-Stewart -- Arab News2021-04-15 12:32:522021-05-01 12:33:23Yemeni Teachers’ Union Slams Houthi Curriculum Takeover
More IMPACT Briefs

IMPACT in the News

  • THE DOUBLE EDGED SWORD THAT IS SCHOOL CURRICULA

    Int'l Policy Digest_School Curricula-Double-Edged Sword (SR)

    International Policy Digest — Jan. 3, 2022
    School curricula present a double-edged sword in analyses of the complex relationship between education and the processes of radicalization. On the one hand, curricula can be instrumentalized to favor intolerant, hateful ideologies that endanger the prospect of regional normalization in the Middle East. On the other hand, curricula can just as powerfully be used to promote a more peaceful future based on ideals of mutual respect and tolerance. In this article, IMPACT-se textbook research reports on Saudi Arabia and Qatar are referenced to discuss this complex relationship. 

  • YEMEN, GATEWAY TO THE REGION

    Eurasia Review_Yemen, Gateway To The Region

    Eurasia Review — Dec. 13, 2021
    The civil war in Yemen has now raged since 2014, centered around the conflict between the Houthis and the internationally recognized Republic of Yemen Government. Among deep concerns for the fate of Yemen and the importance of its role in a larger campaign by Iran for influence and power, there are growing worries about the changes in Yemeni education systems. This article discusses egregious violations of UNESCO standards taught in Houthi educational materials that were found in a 2021 IMPACT-se report. 

  • SAUDI ARABIA IS CHANGING ITS FACE, ONE TEXTBOOK AT A TIME

    The National Interest_Saudi Arabia Changing Textbooks_MS

    The National Interest — Dec. 1, 2021
    Recent reports from IMPACT-se have highlighted shifts in a crucial area of the reformist agenda heralded by the Saudi Arabian government regarding education policy. IMPACT-se reports, particularly one from 2021 and another from 2020, are used to exemplify the dramatic progress of Saudi textbooks revisions toward moderation of curricula content. 

  • Saudi Arabia Has Been Scrubbing Its Textbooks of Antisemitic and Misogynistic Passage

    School buses in Riyadh during school closure

    The Washington Post — Jan. 30, 2021
    IMPACT-se’s research on the new 2020 Saudi Arabian curriculum is covered, including the removal of an infamous hadith that called for Muslims to fight and kill all Jews on the Day of Judgement and a section that supported capital punishment for homosexual relationships. The article notes that IMPACT-se’s earlier report on the previous Saudi curriculum was highly critical, and was presented to the Royal Court and Saudi Ministry officials with detailed changes that should be made.  IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff says in the article that the new 2020 textbooks show Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a concerted effort to make content more moderate. A State Department official told the Post, “We are encouraged by the positive changes in influential textbooks used throughout Saudi Arabia.” ADL’s David Weinberg is quoted as saying, “Finally, after years of unremarkable changes, they’ve finally excised some of the hate and incitement in very real ways [although] there is still a very heavy focus on enmity with Israel and Zionism.” Sheff said that textbooks have an overwhelming influence in the Middle East, where students see their curriculum as communicating messages formulated by the state. “There is an understanding of the direct link between textbooks’ power to radicalize young people. And it works the other way around: Textbooks have this power to act as a barrier to radicalization.”

  • New York Times Quotes IMPACT-Se in Assessment of New US-Saudi Relationship

    The New York Times — Jan. 19, 2021
    The New York Times quoted IMPACT-se’s report on the updated Saudi curriculum today as evidence of significant progress in the Kingdom, in a wider piece about the potential relationship between Saudi Arabia and the new US administration. The article suggests the textbook report findings point to Saudi Arabia going through a process of modernization, which might ease tensions with a Saudi-critical President Biden. The report cited the recent review of Saudi textbooks by IMPACT-se, which found that most of the material deemed anti-Semitic had been taken out, as had text praising jihad and saying gays and lesbians should be punished with death and noted many changes since its previous report last year. Marcus Sheff, the group’s chief executive, told the Times in an interview that the Saudis were moving in the right direction, and faster than they had before. “This curriculum is not free from of hate, not free of incitement,”he said, “but Saudi Arabia has clearly made a concerted effort, an institutional effort, to modernize the curriculum.”

  • ‘Leap’ in Attitudes as Saudi School Textbooks Lose Anti-Semitic and Hardline Islamist Content

    The Telegraph — December 16, 2020
    Hardline Islamist and anti-Semitic content has been removed from Saudi Arabia’s curriculum, according to a new report, in what researchers say marks a historic shift in attitudes in the Gulf Kingdom. A study of the latest Saudi teaching materials found that official state textbooks – distributed to 30,000 schools in Saudi Arabia and abroad – no longer contained calls for non-believers and gay men to be punished by death, nor the anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Jews control the world. Marcus Sheff, Chief Executive of IMPACT-SE, which has reviewed official textbooks since 2003, said that in previous years, lessons had been heavily influenced by Wahhabism, a puritanical form of Sunni Islam, including “very radical” content. “The latest textbooks reflect a real leap forward and an institutional effort to remove some references to hate, including anti-Semitism, jihad, and homophobia,” he said. “There is more work to be done, but these revisions are a real cause for optimism.” Note:  Telegraph has Paywall Complete Article  HERE

  • Saudi Arabia Removes Some---But Not Yet All---Hate Speech from School Books

    Time — December 15, 2020
    Students in Saudi Arabia, like so many around the world, have traded in-person classrooms for logging onto an app during the COVID-19 pandemic. But they’re also experiencing other major shifts in Saudi Arabia’s official, country-wide curriculum, with new reforms stripping out lessons of hatred toward the “other”—whether Christian, Jewish, or gay—and dictats to defend the Islamic faith through violence. The Kingdom’s latest batch of textbooks has for the first time removed sections calling for non-believers to be punished by death, and predicting an apocalyptic final battle in which Muslims will kill all Jews, according to a report released Tuesday by a Jerusalem-based think tank that analyzes global curricula for extremist and intolerant views. The “trend line is cause for optimism,” says Marcus Sheff, CEO of the nonprofit Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education, or IMPACT-se. “We do see a significant change … a real institutional effort … at the highest levels to make a change to modernize the curriculum to remove offense.”

  • Qatari Textbooks Teach Anti-Semitism: Sheff/Weinberg

    Newsweek — September 25, 2020
    On September 14th, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his Qatari counterpart signed an accord on cultural exchanges to advance what the State Department lauded as the countries’ “shared ideals of tolerance and diversity.” The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) has issued the most extensive study ever on Qatar’s official school curriculum with regard to topics of peace and tolerance, and the results are sobering. Its findings indicate that Qatar’s textbooks are on par with those issued by Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian Authority as the worst in the region, and perhaps the world, with regard to government-published antisemitism and other forms of hate. The results of IMPACT-se’s new study are especially striking when viewed according to the rubric of the Anti-Defamation League’s new toolkit for assessing antisemitic tropes: “Antisemitism Uncovered: A Guide to Old Myths in a New Era.” The Qatari textbooks investigated by IMPACT-se propagate nearly all of the antisemitic tropes identified by ADL’s guide: power, disloyalty, greed, deicide, blood libel, Holocaust denial and anti-Jewish slanders that are framed as critiques of Zionism or Israeli policy.

  • UAE ‘Moral Education’ Curriculum in Stark Contrast to Qatar Curriculum

    Al Arabiya — September 13, 2020
    The Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) recently reviewed 238 Qatari textbooks from the last four academic years.  It also reviewed textbooks from the UAE’s “Moral Education” curriculum—a government initiative launched in 2016 for public and private schools in the country. The organization found glaring differences between how the two Gulf countries are teaching young people about people of different religions and backgrounds. While IMPACT-se concluded that Qatar’s “curriculum does not meet international standards of peace and tolerance,” it found UAE’s Moral Education curriculum “aligns with UNESCO standards and UN declarations.” “I would describe the Qatar curriculum as falling short of UNESCO standards in school education,” said IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff in an interview with Al Arabiya English, while the Moral Education curriculum introduces UAE students to “the values of tolerance and respect for themselves, and others, both national and global.”

  • EU Parliament Resolutions Condemn PA Failure to Stop Hate in Textbooks

    EUReporter-EU Res-PA Texts_Screen

    EU Reporter — May 18, 2020
    The European Parliament passed three resolutions which condemn the Palestinian Authority (PA) for continuing to teach hate and violence in its school textbooks and which oppose European Union aid to the PA being used for this purpose.  German MEP Niclas Herbst of the European People’s Party stressed that “EU funds should be spent on peace and mutual understanding. Paying teachers to teach anti-Semitism and incitement to violence through Palestinian schoolbooks should never be subsidized by EU-money. The result of votes today is a strong signal on this regard.” Marcus Sheff, CEO of IMPACT-se noted that EU officials told the group that its [pending] report on Palestinian curriculum will be classified. “There now must be a moment of truth for the European Union. Will it continue to ignore the parliament that oversees its spending? Will the commission now publicly release the freshly- minted report on the Palestinian Authority’s textbooks? Governments, legislators and over a million Palestinian children know what’s in the textbooks. Classifying the report is senseless and frankly, seems highly suspicious,” he said.  IMPACT-se Report

  • Time Magazine Covers IMPACT-se Saudi Textbook Report

    Time — February 10, 2020
    A recent Time Magazine article published on February 10, under the headline, “Saudi Arabia Rebuffs Trump Administration’s Requests to Stop Teaching Hate Speech in Schools,” lays out IMPACT-se’s main findings in it’s recent report on the Saudi Arabian curriculum, including the persistence of anti-Semitism in the textbooks. IMPACT-se presented the Saudi textbook report and policy recommendations at the White House, National Security Council, State Department, and Congress along with the ADL, a leader in researching Saudi textbooks and presenting policy recommendations to the U.S. Administration. IMPACT-se also presented its report to top European officials.

  • Despite Revisions, Saudi Textbooks Show Contradictions: IMPACT-se Report

    FDD/LWJ — March 30, 2020
    Following up on several recent studies of the Saudi curriculum by ADL, the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Education in School Textbooks (IMPACT-se) just completed a longer, comprehensive review of Saudi textbooks since 2016, using standards for peace and tolerance outlined by UNESCO as a benchmark. The results are eye-opening. In some respects, progress has been made. Yet, on the other hand, the latest Saudi curriculum remains plagued by intolerance. In essence, the latest Saudi curriculum seems to be something of a contradiction. On the one hand, there appears to be a real attempt to move away from jihadism. On the other, deep and destructive prejudices remain, including those that are used by extremists to justify religious violence against people demonized as the Other.  Although the kingdom has undertaken rapid reforms in several other areas—such as expanding women’s rights and curtailing the abusive religious police—the kingdom’s rulers have yet to show that they are giving similar priority to the urgent removal of incitement from government-published textbooks.

  • Norwegian Daily: Palestinian Schoolchildren Learn That Martyr Death Is ‘The Most Important Thing in Life’

    Aftenposten — November 12, 2019
    An article on the new PA curriculum by Norway’s leading newspaper follows a report and visit to Oslo by IMPACT-se last week to meet legislators of every major political party, as well as with senior leaders at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Said IMPACT-se CEO MS: “While Norwegian taxpayers fund the new and radical Palestinian curriculum, their diplomats were on the ground, working with the PA during its creation.  It should have been screamingly obvious to the Norwegian diplomats in Ramallah two years ago that they had a problem…” Socialist Party member and leader of “Friends of Palestine in Parliament” MP Petter Eide, while objecting to aid being held back, said, the new curriculum is “problematic” and that it will “make it more difficult for the Palestinians to secure international aid in the future.”

  • UK-EU Review Into Incitement in PA Textbooks Begins After Delay

    Jewish News (via TOI) — Sept. 15, 2019
    A major government review into incitement and anti-Semitism in Palestinian textbooks that was due to have been completed this month has only just begun. Following research on the PA curriculum by IMPACT-se, the Department for International Development (DfID) announced the review with the European Union six months ago, saying it would be complete by September 2019. The reason given for the six-month delay was due to a change in the Palestinian Education Minister and to contractual negotiations between the EU and the Georg Eckert Institute for International Textbook Research, tasked with carrying out the work.

  • Leading Arab Newspaper Claims IMPACT-se is Changing Textbooks in the Middle East

    Al-Akhbar — June 11, 2019
    Top Arabic network, Al-Akhbar, has claimed that IMPACT-se is changing curricula across the Middle East, according to a June 11th print and internet think piece (English translation) which covers IMPACT-se’s reports, legislative work in the European Parliament and joint project with Prof. Mohammed Dajani Daoudi’s Wasatia Institute.

  • IMPACT and WASATIA Unite to Moderate PA Curriculum

    The Algemeiner — March 14, 2019
    IMPACT-se said it will be working with Professor Mohammed Dajani Daoudi of the WASATIA Academic Institute (WAI) to “promote Wasatia education for the Palestinian educational system.” A jointly published booklet identified five “problematic categories” within current Palestinian textbooks: [encouragement] to violence; subliminal violent messaging; demonization of the Other; indoctrination to militancy; and degradation of women.
    “It is hoped that the Palestinian Authority will revise its curriculum along the lines of the international standards for peace education presented here,” Daoudi wrote.

  • IMPACT-se Report Spurs EU Study of Palestinian Textbooks

    EuroNews — May 22, 2019
    The European Union will fund a study on Palestinian school textbooks “with a view to identifying possible incitement to hatred and violence and any possible lack of compliance with UNESCO standards of peace and tolerance in education,” EU Commission Vice-President Federica Mogherini told European lawmakers. The announcement follows a damning report by IMPACT-se, a Jerusalem-based watchdog, which reviewed selected examples from the new Palestinian school curriculum for the 2018–19 academic year and concluded the material was “more radical than those previously published.”

  • Top Swiss Newspaper Questions Gov Support of UNWRA Schools

    SonntagsZeitung — Jan. 6, 2019
    “School materials that run contrary to the spirit of a two-state solution, which glorify violence, which fuel racism and anti-Semitism or trivialize violations of international law and human rights are not in compliance with the Swiss position on the Middle East,” said a spokeswoman of the [Swiss] Foreign Office (EDA). “Switzerland will examine reports such as those by IMPACT-se and discuss them with other donor nations.”  Eng. Translation

  • IMPACT-se Turkey Report Featured in NYT Article

    The New York Times — Sept. 18, 2017
    Following a report last year by Impact-se, which analyzed 117 school textbooks in Turkey and concluded that the curriculum taught human rights, was open to Darwin, gender equality, the protection of the environment, compassion toward AIDS patients and various lifestyles, critics have now challenged the overhaul of more than 170 curriculum topics by the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “representing a frontal assault on the country’s already fragile tradition of secularism.” The author of the IMPACT-se report, Dr. Hay Yanarocak, said the new changes showed, “Turkey is changing its direction and is no longer, by default, a Western state.”

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