Saffa Girls School January 21, 2015
All photos by Bobby Neptune for USAID.
General:
The Saffa Girls School in Ramallah Governorate, West Bank, is one of 57 schools that USAID provided training to teachers and administrators through the Model School Network Program – a five-year initiative focused on developing a network of best practices for schools that would serve as a model for improving the quality of basic education in the West Bank. The project focused on the professional development of teachers and administrators, particularly in the areas of English, math, science, and information technology (IT). The school now has a thriving sports program and is providing healthier meals to its students to improve learning. The Saffa Girls School is also one of nine girls’ schools (and one of 36 overall schools) that USAID is constructing or rehabilitating through the Local Government and Infrastructure Program – a five-year project designed to promote better local governance and provide basic community infrastructure necessary for improving the quality of life of Palestinians. The school has now 28 rehabilitated classrooms, computer and science lab, and library and resource center.
In the West Bank, girls are thriving in the classroom. Since 2000, USAID has constructed nearly 3,000 classrooms and renovated 2,700 more–allowing many schools to cut class size and eliminate the need for students to learn in shifts. USAID not only invests in improving the physical conditions of schools and classrooms aiming to improve the learning environment, it also works through programs that improve teaching methodologies and introduce contemporary approaches to teaching and learning strategies, providing more learning opportunities for students.
General
Fifth Graders play [OR INSERT ACTION] at the Saffa Girls School in Ramallah Governorate, West Bank — one of 93 schools that USAID helps renovate and provide training to teachers and administrators through the Model School Network and the Local Government and Infrastructure Programs. The Model School Network Program is a five-year initiative – implemented by AMIDEAST – that focused on replicating best practices to improve the quality of basic education (grades 1-9) in the West Bank and Gaza. The project focused on the professional development of teachers and administrators, particularly in the areas of English, math, science and information technology (IT). The program is implemented in 40 public and 17 private schools in the West Bank and Gaza. The Local Government and Infrastructure Program is a five-year initiative – implemented by Global Communities – designed to promote better local governance and provide the basic community infrastructure necessary for improving the quality of life for Palestinians. Through LGI, USAID has undertaken approximately 200 infrastructure projects for schools, health clinics, community centers, youth clubs, and roads, benefiting almost one million Palestinians.
Since 2000, USAID has constructed nearly 3,000 classrooms and renovated 2,700 more–allowing many schools to cut class size and eliminate the need for students to learn in shifts.
USAID not only invests in improving the physical conditions of schools and classrooms aiming to improve the learning environment, it also works through programs that improve teaching methodologies and introduce contemporary approaches to teaching and learning strategies, providing more learning opportunities for students.
Principal ( Dressed in Red – One Portrait at Desk, One Portrait Outside speaking to Student)
Abeer Ali Badran, 36, is the principal at the model Saffa Girls School in the West Bank. With USAID support, she and the school’s teachers received training in school leadership and teaching in the areas of English, math, science and IT. USAID also helped renovate the school to provide a better learning environment for its 538 students, grades 1-12, including providing internet and computers. Abeer Badran says that one of the schools’ main challenges is retaining students after the 10th grade, when it is common to lose female students to early marriage.
Quote: “Usually when a woman is principal the school gets better results.”
Nicole (10) [Girl with High wavy pony tail thats in a lot of photos-Main Subject Student]
Nicole is a 5th Grade student at the Saffa Girls School in Ramallah Governorate, West Bank. The school received USAID support and funding to provide better facilities and higher levels of education for its 538 students. Since 2000, USAID has constructed nearly 3,000 classrooms and renovated 2,700 more–allowing many schools to cut class size and eliminate the need for students to learn in shifts.
Nicole – a 5th-grade student at the Saffa Girls School in Ramallah Governorate, West Bank – says she likes studying English and wants to be a doctor. She is thankful for the renovations that USAID provided to the aging facility, including to its 28 classrooms, playground, drinking fountain, and the construction of a boundary wall that prohibits those who are not students from wandering into the facilities. Saffa is one of 93 schools that USAID helped to renovate and provided training to teachers and administrators under the Model School Network Program implemented by AMIDEAST and the Local Government and Infrastructure Program implemented by Global Communities.
Dama Karaja (18) [Not Pictured]
Dama Karaja is a 12th-grade student at the USAID-supported Saffa Girls School in Ramallah Governorate, West Bank. Saffa is one of 93 schools that USAID helped to renovate and provided training to teachers and administrators through the MSN and LGI projects. Dama wants to continue her education to become an engineer, but she is worried about the cost. Although she is finishing her education, she says that some of her female colleagues dropped out due to early marriage. “I think its very important to educate yourself because you can realize your dream,” she says.
Background on Saffa Girls school we visited:
USAID supported the Saffa Girls school by improving the physical conditions of the school and providing a better learning environment (rehabilitation work through implementing partner Global Communities) and providing training for the teachers and administrators (through implementing partner AMIDEAST) .
The Model School Network Program is a five-year initiative – implemented by AMIDEAST – that focused on replicating best practices to improve the quality of basic education (grades 1-9) in the West Bank and Gaza. The project focused on the professional development of teachers and administrators, particularly in the areas of English, math, science and information technology (IT). The program was implemented in 40 public and 17 private schools in the West Bank and Gaza.
The program introduced a student-centered, contemporary approach to teaching and learning within a network of 57 private and public schools in the West Bank and Gaza. Saffa Girls School was one of the 57 schools under the MSN Program. The program focused on the professional development of teachers and administrators at the model schools, particularly in the areas of English, math, science, and IT.
Professional networking, an annual, national and regional conference, and local peer-to-peer exchanges were also important features. Schools worked with parent-teacher associations, engaged in an after-school youth enrichment activities and students enjoyed summer English, math, and science camps.
These measures encouraged professional networking among schools and linkages between schools and their communities in order to foster “Communities of Learning” that best support children’s learning outcomes.
Math, English, science, and IT teachers of Saffa Girls School participated in the professional development program and received nine graduate credit hours.
This was an incentive to teachers and encouraged them to continue higher education studies at Palestinian universities. In addition, the school principal also participated in the one year Leadership Diploma Program. School facilities were renovated specifically the computer and science labs including furnishing and equipping and providing the school with internet connectivity. The school also received supplies such as library books and resource materials for teachers.
In addition, students were introduced to numerous extracurricular activities complementing classroom studies and engaging students in interactive learning experiences.
Saffa Girls School teaches grades 1 through 12. Saffa school has 538 students.
Through the MSN Program, Saffa Girls school received approximately $66,000. This amount doesn’t include training costs.
Through the LGI Program, Saffa Girls school received $171,467 for rehabilitation works. Works included rehabilitation of 28 educational rooms in the three-floor school building. Internal works consisted of plastering, painting, and electrical works in addition to maintenance of tiles, doors, aluminum windows, and sanitary units. External works included construction of a canteen, boundary walls, drinking water fountain, and rehabilitation of the playground.
General
Through the LGI Program, USAID completed the construction of additional schools for, and general rehabilitation of three primary and three secondary girls’ schools for a total value of $1.49 million benefiting it’s 1,781 students. Currently, LGI is constructing additional classrooms for two secondary girls’ school at a total value of $1.37 benefiting its 463 students. In addition, USAID is in the process of awarding the construction of a secondary girls’ school for a total value of $975,000 benefiting its 296 students. Through the LGI Program, USAID supports nine girls school benefiting its 2,540 students (out of a total of 36 schools supported).
Through the MSN program, USAID supported 24 girls’ school benefiting more than its 14,000 students (out of a total of 57 schools supported).
USAID has additional education programs supporting girls education:
The School Support Program (SSP) is a four-year initiative that supports marginalized schools by upgrading classrooms and school facilities, enhancing the schools’ learning and teaching environment through teacher training and leadership for principals; and implementing extracurricular, career counseling, and sports activities. Through the School Support Program USAID supports 19 girls’ schools benefiting more than its 8,000 students (out of a total 50 schools supported).
The Leadership and Teacher Development (LTD) Program is a student-based four-year initiative that improves the competencies of thousands of teachers and principals through a results-based approach to training and leadership development. Through the LTD Program USAID supports 122 girls’ schools benefiting more than its 31,000 students (out of a total 232 schools supported).
Student performance in USAID-supported Palestinian schools in the West Bank has improved substantially since the launch of the LTD Program in 2012. Students in schools that received teacher and principal training scored an average of 7% higher on standardized examinations when compared to other students in their district whose teachers and principals had not received this training.
There are more than 1,600 public schools and 320 private schools in the West Bank.
USAID’s education reform initiatives have played a critical role in beginning the process of transforming the Palestinian education system from one based on textbooks and rote-learning to one aimed at developing students’ 21st century skills.
