FY15 – Quarter 2 Report (January- March 2014): School Support Program (SSP)

Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Palestinian Authority. The program aims to improve the quality of education in the West Bank by supporting the development of school infrastructure, teacher training, and community engagement. The program is implemented by the Amideast organization, with Phillip Butterfield serving as the Chief of Party. The SSP has made significant progress in improving the school learning environment through renovation and equipping of 50 selected schools. Renovation work was completed for 20 stage II schools during March, with renovation already completed at 27 stage I schools during the previous quarter. To date, 126 rooms at 47 schools have been upgraded, including 47 computer labs, 38 science labs, and 41 libraries. Distribution of furniture and IT equipment for these schools will commence in April and be completed by mid-May. The program has also implemented a range of co- and extracurricular activities, including the creation of debate and drama clubs, and the continuation of field trips. A total of 1,741 students visited the Al Quds University Science Museum, and another 3,417 students visited the Qalqilya Zoo. Career counselors have put into action the knowledge acquired in Career Counseling Development Program (CCDP) training, conducting career counseling training and completing child resilience training. Additionally, the program implemented Career Open Days in schools across the West Bank that will continue through the end of April. The program has also made progress in the area of teacher training, with the Leadership Diploma Program (LDP) training delayed due to the Palestinian Authority's decision to prohibit staff from participating in training during school hours. However, training was resumed on Saturdays only, with considerable objections expressed by principals. The program has also implemented the Parent Council Incentive Program, which organized and carried out activities including parent-student-teacher sports events, awareness sessions, and school trips. The program has also made progress in the area of community engagement, with a range of activities implemented to engage parents and the local community in the education process. Despite the challenges faced by the program, including the Palestinian Authority's decision to apply for membership to the International Criminal Court and the subsequent withholding of tax revenue by Israel, the program has continued to make progress in key programmatic areas. The program has demonstrated its ability to adapt to challenging circumstances and has continued to implement its activities in a timely and effective manner. The program has also made progress in the area of monitoring and evaluation, with the implementation of the Performance Management Plan and the use of the GeoMIS system to track program activities. The program has also conducted a range of evaluations and assessments, including the completion of a post-assessment survey and the implementation of a principal and teacher effectiveness survey. Overall, the SSP has made significant progress in improving the quality of education in the West Bank, despite the challenges faced by the program. The program has demonstrated its ability to adapt to challenging circumstances and has continued to implement its activities in a timely and effective manner.