Kisan School Case Study

Kisan is a small Palestinian village located in the south of Bethlehem city with a population of around 800 people. Kisan, as many other Palestinian villages, is classified within Area C, where the Israeli authority has near-total control according to the 1995 Oslo Accord. The children in the village are forced to attend an underdeveloped and inadequate school with scarce educational resources because of the restricting construction regulations placed by the Israeli authorities. Therefore, depriving them of their basic human rights. The village’s projects committee with the help of the SDC and the MDLF sought to find a permanent solution that took form in a project to provide a sufficient educational institution. After various meetings and relentless persistence from the community members, the project was launched in January 2020. 

Despite the numerous Israeli attempts to hinder the construction process by issuing three demolition notices, confiscating construction tools, and detaining workers, the villagers stood their ground against all the odds and completed the project in August 2021. One of the village officials expressed the importance of this project when he stated, “The new school project will go down in the history of the village as the most important project to be conducted over the couple of years.” He also added, “This project is like the heart’s arteries pumping life into the village.”  And after a long journey paved with hardships, Kisan’s new school is ready to open its doors for the joyful bright-eyed children on September 12th, 2021. Thus, proving that hard work and determination pay off even if your goal seems unattainable.  

Kisan’s school has hosted the village’s children for the past 20 years, and despite being an adored site by all the children, it does not meet the basic requirements to be a learning establishment, as it was originally built as caravans and warehouses. This is illustrated by the lack of spacious classrooms to accommodate the students, a proper schoolyard, and educational material resources. One of the problems the students face is the classrooms being overcrowded, thus, affecting their overall attentiveness and engagement. Another major problem the students face is the lack of a schoolyard, as they are forced to play and hold activities in the street. This is extremely dangerous because the children are subjected to extreme weather conditions and harassment from Israeli settlers making the children put their safety on the line. In an interview with one of the school’s teachers, the teacher pointed out the lack of material resources in the school such as computers and LCD equipment. This can negatively affect the children’s learning experience and the quality and effectiveness of teaching. However, despite all the negative aspects of the old school building, the children remain motivated to unleash their full potential with enthusiasm overtaking their little bodies.   

 Following the initial plan for this project due to the community’s high demand, the construction of the new Kisan School was completed in August 2021. A member of the joint service council stated that the workers had to work day and night and during the holidays to finalize the construction of the school. Taking into consideration the flaws that the old building suffered from, the new school building was constructed to be a well-rounded educational institute. The new school consists of numerous bigger classrooms to accommodate around 160 children. That can leave a positive effect on their school performance and the quality of learning. It also includes a safe schoolyard where the children can play and hold extracurricular activities without worrying about their safety and possible harassment from settlers living in the surrounding Israeli settlements. This project received positive feedback from the children, their parents, and the teachers. Kisan’s students showed great excitement over the new school. A teacher in the school stated, “The students are extremely enthusiastic to attend a bigger and better school” . To celebrate the completion of this project, the school principal said he would let the children come to the first day of school in their festive Eid clothes. Regardless of the various obstacles the Israeli regime put in the way of this project, from confiscating construction tools, arresting workers, restrictive regulations, and opposing Israeli demonstrations, the project defied all the odds and became one of the village's greatest accomplishments.