BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee

Assistance
Palestinian refugees in Syria have full access to government schools. 58 Basic education includes six years of elementary
education and three years of preparatory education. Both levels are compulsory. Government schools currently
provide education for approximately one-fifth of refugee students at the elementary and preparatory level, and most
students at the secondary level. Refugees who are able to afford tuition fees may also attend private schools. Students
may choose between preparation for either university or technical training. Post-secondary education is free in Syria;
however, individuals must pass an entrance exam. Those who do not pass can make use of a so-called “Free University”
where they pay a certain fee per subject.
In Jordan, most refugees have free access to 12 years of compulsory public education (elementary, preparatory and
high school). The government also runs public secondary schools in refugee camps. 59 Government schools currently
provide elementary/preparatory education to slightly more than one-third of Palestinian refugees in Jordan, and
nearly all at the secondary level. Refugees who can afford tuition fees may attend private schools. Two hundred places
in Jordan’s eight official universities are reserved for Palestinian refugee students from camps. The Department of
Palestinian Affairs also manages training centres in Hittin, Zarqa and Irbid refugee camps. However, government
schools do not accept refugee students from the occupied Gaza Strip unless they hold a two-year Jordanian passport.
Access to post-secondary public institutions for this group of refugees requires special approval, and only limited
spaces are available.
In Lebanon, access to public and private education by Palestinian refugees is limited. Public schools may admit
up to 10% of non-Lebanese students. 60 The education system is divided in three levels: primary (6 years); preparatory
(3 years); and, secondary (3 years). Public schools provide elementary education (at kindergarten level) to
few refugees, but more than one-third of preparatory level students are enrolled in public schools. Most secondary
students however attend one of the five UNRWA-operated secondary schools. Private education plays a more
significant role, but most Palestinian refugee families cannot afford it. Few can afford private post-secondary
education either, and need scholarships in order to pursue their studies. In 2006, the European Union donated
€1.1 million to provide scholarships for 54 Palestinian refugee students in Lebanon. 61
Palestinian refugees in the OPT have access to the Palestinian Authority-operated public education system, which
provides for 10 years of free compulsory education (elementary and preparatory), as well as high school. Those who
can afford tuition fees may attend private schools. Tuition fees must be paid to attend post-secondary institutions.
From July 2004 to June 2005, 229,530 Palestinian refugee pupils were enrolled in public and private schools. 62
Table 3.4: Access to Government Education by Palestinian Refugees
Type of services Syria Jordan Lebanon OPT
Elementary Free access Free access Limited access Free access
Preparatory Free access Free access Limited access Free access
High school Free access Free access
Limited access with
Limited access Free access
University Free access pending entry
3.2.2 Health
test.
tuition fee (200 places
limited to camp
refugees). Limited access
to 1967 refugees from
Gaza.
Limited access. Certain
fields of studies
are prohibited to
Palestinians.
Access with tuition fee.
UNRWA operates 127 primary health-care facilities and one hospital in its five areas of operation. Health care
is UNRWA’s second largest programme, comprising about 19% of the total budget in 2006–2007. 63 More than
3,800 members of staff are employed in UNRWA’s health programme, making up 18% of Agency staff. UNRWA
89