/9 © Alaa Ghosheh/ UNRWA archives Protection through education UNRWA’s education programme operates 700 schools for approximately 500,000 students; 10 vocational training centres; three pre-service teacher training institutions and in-service teacher education. UNRWA’s operating context is highly varied, ranging from relative stability in some countries to more complex environments and sporadic flare up of more intense violence and instability. These challenging environmental conditions in which Palestine refugee children live in make them vulnerable resulting in additional psychosocial, learning and health needs. It is estimated that between 13-20% of all students in UNRWA schools have special educational needs. Children with disabilities are in a particularly disadvantaged and vulnerable position. The vision of UNRWA’s education programme encompasses the protection principles of safety and dignity of beneficiaries and staff, targeted quality service delivery, accessibility, equity and impartiality, participation, partnerships and coordination, as well as advocacy and accountability. To further strengthen its education programme, an Agencywide Education Reform Strategy was developed. Two key areas of the education reform are particularly important for the Agency’s protection work: • • Develop and implement an inclusive approach to meet the diverse need of the students and thereby contribute to equal quality education for Palestine refugee students with additional learning, psychosocial and health needs. Develop a strategy which will facilitate a comprehensive response to emergencies when they happen and also contribute to the prevention of, preparedness for, and recovery from situations in emergencies. The initiatives will contribute to UNRWA’s HDG 2 Acquired knowledge and skills and, more specifically to strategic objective 4 and 6: • • Ensure universal access to and coverage of basic education Inclusive education is one of the four substantial reform areas in the Education Reform Strategy and improving access to educational opportunities for children with special educational needs is an Agency wide strategy objective. Increase awareness of UNRWA protection programming amongst general public Further to these objectives, UNRWA promotes the understanding of protection-based programming amongst the general public through a comprehensive protection-based communications strategy which distributes film and text through UNRWA’s website, social media sites, and local and international media. Four main communications themes fall under the protection campaign: • • • • UNRWA protects the right to knowledge and skills through educational programming; UNRWA protects the right to long and healthy lives through health programming; UNRWA protects the right to a decent standard of living through relief and social services, microfinance, and emergency programming; And UNRWA promotes human rights with emergency and protection programming.