How does the Intifada affect education?
An often-overlooked problem of the first and second Intifada has been the closure of schools for extended periods of time. Many young Palestinians between 20-25 years old have lost years of education in the first Intifada from 1987 to 1993. Their basic knowledge in subjects like Arabic, mathematics and English is far lower than for students who are younger or older . These years, this age group is enrolled in vocational training, colleges or universities, and the pattern repeats itself. Often they cannot attend classes, because of closures, and many students have to give up for this reason. At the same time their basic skills is lacking. At the YWCA they experience that many girls cannot spell properly and that their English is really poor, compared to earlier standards. At Birzeit University some of the lecturers complain the current level among their top students are to be compared with the lowest in the classes a few years ago. With the second Intifada another academically disadvant
