NABLUS,
March 1, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – Palestinian schools have launched
a unique “school government” program to instill the concept of
democracy into the young generations.
“Sixteen
preliminary and primary schools have been selected to start the
program, including 12 in the Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank,”
Samer Jabril, the program’s coordinator, told IslamOnline.net
Monday, February 28.
The
program is held under the auspices of the Nablus-based Palestinian
Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution.
Under
the program, which kicked off at the start of the current school year
in October, every school holds symbolic parliamentary and government
elections to pick up MPs and ministers from among the students.
“The
young politicians have put forward their creative platforms in hot
parliamentary campaigns just like those rolling in democratic
countries,” Jabril said.
“Thirty-five
students have been elected as MPs from each school and have then
undergone courses to train them on democracy and constitutional
concepts.”
Jabril
said the 35 students chose a prime minister, who, in turn, named nine
ministers to be presented later to the Legislative Council
(parliament).
“The
remaining 25 MPs shall give the thumbs-up to the appointments,” he
added. “The premier is entitled to further appoint 12 students as
judges provided that they are approved by parliament.”
The
14-month program wraps up at the end of the school year with two
conferences, one in Gaza Strip and the second in the West Bank, to
have a feedback on the entire experience.
The
course includes extracurricular activities like one-day trips, camping
and classes on how to speak to the media.
“The
program is modeled after similar collegiate activities, which all are
aimed at raising the students’s awareness of the importance of
democracy,” Jabril said.
Positive
Feedback
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Girls, too, play an important role.
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The
nascent program has earned a positive feedback from parents, teachers
as well as university professors.
“I
encouraged my son to join the program to serve his homeland in the
future,” Salama Al-Sameri told IOL.
“The
project grooms future generations to take over the political landscape
and train them in practicing democracy at young age,” added Fareed
Abu Dahir, professor of mass media at Al-Najah University in Nablus.
Abdel
Latif Abu Zand, the principal of Abdel Hamid Al-Sayeh school in
Nablus, said the amazing thing was that the students were very much
enthusiastic about the program.
“They
looked as if they were yearning to learn everything about democracy
and elections,” he said.
Ahmed
Salem, A 16-year-old student who was elected as a minister in Al-Sayeh
school, said he will honor his pre-election promises.
“I
want to give voice to the problems and obstacles facing my fellow
schoolmates,” he told IOL.
Majd
Khoreim, 14, sees the program as an opportunity to vindicate herself.
“My
platform is based on addressing the problems of girls in our
conservative society,” she said.
Psychologists
had told IOL that that despite continuous sufferings under the Israeli
occupation, Palestinian children are future-oriented.
