Assessment of the Psychosocial Impact of the Israeli Military Operations and Blockade on the Education System in Gaza

Kostelny, K & Wessells, M. (2010).

Members of the Columbia Group led a UNESCO-commissioned assessment to determine how students and education staff at all levels of education are being affected by the very difficult situation in Gaza. The assessment used a mixed methods approach that included qualitative data from interviews and focus group discussions with education leaders, teachers, and learners; discussions with youth who have had to drop out of school to work; and information from body mapping with children in primary school. A survey instrument that is designed to tap into the issues identified from the qualitative data was administered to over 5,000 learners from different education levels. The results are being used to guide UNESCO education programming and to help the Education Cluster fill key gaps.