Official Website
Programme overview
Main Subject
Education and Training
Degree
Other
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
This program was designed in response to the needs of Palestinian society to train personnel working in the field of special education who hold a first-degree degree in university education and wish to gain deeper and more comprehensive knowledge in the field of special education. This training aims to strengthen and maintain their positions on the one hand, and to pursue postgraduate studies on the other. This means in-service training, given the urgent need for such personnel in the field, especially since the prevalence of disability in Palestinian society, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, was 2.27% of the population in 2011. This is a significant percentage, and it is well known that this percentage has increased since then and is likely to increase further due to the practices of the occupation. This program also addresses the needs of the Palestinian Ministry of Education in dealing with special education students in general, and students with learning difficulties in particular, whether in kindergartens, schools, or universities. The State of Palestine adopted the inclusive education policy stemming from the Salamanca Conference in Spain in 1994, which affirmed the right of persons with disabilities to mainstream education. The Ministry of Education initiated the integration of students with disabilities into public schools in 1997, under the principle of inclusive education: education that leaves no one out. Approximately 5,500 students with various disabilities were integrated into regular public schools. Based on these principles, the Palestinian Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities No. 4 of 1999 was issued. Article 10 of this law guarantees the right of persons with disabilities to equal opportunities to enroll in educational institutions and universities within the framework of the curricula in place at these institutions. It also mandates the provision of necessary educational assessments to determine the nature and degree of disability, the provision of appropriate educational curricula and facilities, the provision of education of all types and at all levels, and the preparation of qualified educators to teach students with disabilities. This again means training in-service teachers to ensure they are fully aware of how to work with inclusive classrooms. While the Ministry of Education has trained some of its teachers, the majority still need to be trained. Some of them need training. This is where the idea for this program originated: to support and strengthen the Ministry of Education's plans by providing its staff with the opportunity to obtain a master's degree in special education. This will supply the community with specialists possessing professional competencies in this field, whether in planning, assessment, diagnosis, interventions, or in developing appropriate educational programs, including teaching methods, preparing suitable educational materials, creating individualized education plans (IEPs), individualized instructional plans (IEPs), remedial plans, and evaluating educational practices. Having professional specialists in special education will help the Ministry of Education understand the extent of the problem in schools and propose ministerial-level strategies to support these students at all stages of their education.
Several international organizations have tried in recent years and are still trying to support the Palestinian education system through special education departments in the various directorates and through partnerships with Palestinian civil society organizations to qualify some frameworks in schools and train educational staff to be able to deal with special education students in inclusive education, but these attempts are not sufficient to cover all these needs, in addition to the fact that the training frameworks available for teachers, educational counselors and others are not at the required professional level and are not necessarily academic and comprehensive.
Several international organizations have tried in recent years and are still trying to support the Palestinian education system through special education departments in the various directorates and through partnerships with Palestinian civil society organizations to qualify some frameworks in schools and train educational staff to be able to deal with special education students in inclusive education, but these attempts are not sufficient to cover all these needs, in addition to the fact that the training frameworks available for teachers, educational counselors and others are not at the required professional level and are not necessarily academic and comprehensive.
Programme overview
Main Subject
Education and Training
Degree
Other
Study Level
Masters
Study Mode
On Campus
This program was designed in response to the needs of Palestinian society to train personnel working in the field of special education who hold a first-degree degree in university education and wish to gain deeper and more comprehensive knowledge in the field of special education. This training aims to strengthen and maintain their positions on the one hand, and to pursue postgraduate studies on the other. This means in-service training, given the urgent need for such personnel in the field, especially since the prevalence of disability in Palestinian society, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, was 2.27% of the population in 2011. This is a significant percentage, and it is well known that this percentage has increased since then and is likely to increase further due to the practices of the occupation. This program also addresses the needs of the Palestinian Ministry of Education in dealing with special education students in general, and students with learning difficulties in particular, whether in kindergartens, schools, or universities. The State of Palestine adopted the inclusive education policy stemming from the Salamanca Conference in Spain in 1994, which affirmed the right of persons with disabilities to mainstream education. The Ministry of Education initiated the integration of students with disabilities into public schools in 1997, under the principle of inclusive education: education that leaves no one out. Approximately 5,500 students with various disabilities were integrated into regular public schools. Based on these principles, the Palestinian Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities No. 4 of 1999 was issued. Article 10 of this law guarantees the right of persons with disabilities to equal opportunities to enroll in educational institutions and universities within the framework of the curricula in place at these institutions. It also mandates the provision of necessary educational assessments to determine the nature and degree of disability, the provision of appropriate educational curricula and facilities, the provision of education of all types and at all levels, and the preparation of qualified educators to teach students with disabilities. This again means training in-service teachers to ensure they are fully aware of how to work with inclusive classrooms. While the Ministry of Education has trained some of its teachers, the majority still need to be trained. Some of them need training. This is where the idea for this program originated: to support and strengthen the Ministry of Education's plans by providing its staff with the opportunity to obtain a master's degree in special education. This will supply the community with specialists possessing professional competencies in this field, whether in planning, assessment, diagnosis, interventions, or in developing appropriate educational programs, including teaching methods, preparing suitable educational materials, creating individualized education plans (IEPs), individualized instructional plans (IEPs), remedial plans, and evaluating educational practices. Having professional specialists in special education will help the Ministry of Education understand the extent of the problem in schools and propose ministerial-level strategies to support these students at all stages of their education.
Several international organizations have tried in recent years and are still trying to support the Palestinian education system through special education departments in the various directorates and through partnerships with Palestinian civil society organizations to qualify some frameworks in schools and train educational staff to be able to deal with special education students in inclusive education, but these attempts are not sufficient to cover all these needs, in addition to the fact that the training frameworks available for teachers, educational counselors and others are not at the required professional level and are not necessarily academic and comprehensive.
Several international organizations have tried in recent years and are still trying to support the Palestinian education system through special education departments in the various directorates and through partnerships with Palestinian civil society organizations to qualify some frameworks in schools and train educational staff to be able to deal with special education students in inclusive education, but these attempts are not sufficient to cover all these needs, in addition to the fact that the training frameworks available for teachers, educational counselors and others are not at the required professional level and are not necessarily academic and comprehensive.
Admission Requirements
Those wishing to enroll in the Master's program in Special Education must meet the following requirements:
- He must have a bachelor’s degree in special education, education, psychology or any other specialization from a university recognized and accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education.
- His cumulative GPA in his bachelor's degree must be 75% or higher.
- He has at least two years of practical experience in a school environment.
- He submits an essay of 200-250 words explaining the reasons why he wants to join the program.
- Two letters of recommendation are required, one from an academic and one from the employer where the applicant works. The letters of recommendation should include a description of the applicant's abilities and scientific and practical knowledge in the field of teaching, therapeutic work, relationships with beneficiaries, etc.
- He passes a personal interview and succeeds in the exams offered by the department to applicants.
- Any other conditions stipulated by the university and the relevant authorities (Ministry of Education and Higher Education).
- Pay the university fees determined by the university's admissions and registration department for the program.
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