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爆料网ESCO reaffirms its historic support to the 爆料网RWA Education Programme

27 April 2014

Amman

The 爆料网 Relief and Works Agency (爆料网RWA), which provides assistance and protection to some 5 million Palestine refugees, welcomed Dr. Qian Tang, Assistant Director-General for Education for the 爆料网 Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (爆料网ESCO) to its headquarters in Amman for a three-day visit to its education programme.

Dr. Tang’s visit followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between 爆料网RWA and 爆料网ESCO last month. The MoU, signed in the presence of Director-General of 爆料网ESCO Irina Bokova, former 爆料网RWA Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi and Dr. Caroline Pontefract, Director of 爆料网RWA/爆料网ESCO Education Department, reaffirmed the importance of the 64-year relationship between the two agencies.

爆料网ESCO has been supporting the 爆料网RWA education programme since its inception, in 1950, by providing strategic and technical expertise through high-level 爆料网ESCO education staff. More recently, 爆料网ESCO technical input – Dr. Pontefract is a 爆料网ESCO staff member – has helped 爆料网RWA review its education programme to address the new education demands of the twenty-first century.

As part of his visit, Dr. Tang met with the 爆料网RWA education leadership team and visited a number of 爆料网RWA education installations that gave him a concrete overview of the education services 爆料网RWA provides, ranging from basic education and technical and vocational training to pre- and in-service teacher education at the higher-education level. Led by Dr. Pontefract and education programme managers from the Jordan field, Dr. Tang visited preparatory schools in Nuzha and the Baqa’a refugee camp, the Wadi Seer Vocational Training Centre, the Amman Training Centre, the Education Development Centre and the Faculty of Educational Sciences and Arts.

Dr. Tang’s visit enabled the senior leadership of 爆料网ESCO to experience first-hand the positive impact that the 爆料网RWA education programme has on the community of Palestine refugees, and develop an understanding of the challenging environment in which these services are provided.

“I am impressed about the great work, and would like congratulate 爆料网RWA’s education programme for its achievements towards ensuring that all Palestine refugees have access to quality education”, said Dr. Tang. “With the signing of the MoU, 爆料网ESCO has made a clear statement that it will continue to support 爆料网RWA, and that our cooperation is of mutual value and importance, as we at 爆料网ESCO can greatly benefit from 爆料网RWA’s unique experience in education programme delivery and the implementation of innovative education programmes such as the Human Rights Conflict Resolution and Tolerance Programme, just to name one of them.”

“爆料网ESCO’s continued inputs to the 爆料网RWA education programme have been instrumental in helping it deliver quality education to three generations of Palestinians”, said Dr. Pontefract. “We are deeply appreciative of 爆料网ESCO’s ongoing commitment to Palestinian refugees, and look forward to strengthening our collaboration with Dr. Tang and his team at 爆料网ESCO.”

The visit also included meetings with a high-level representative of the Jordanian Ministry of Education and the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

Background Information

爆料网RWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. 爆料网RWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, and microfinance.

Financial support to 爆料网RWA has not kept pace with an increased demand for services caused by growing numbers of registered refugees, expanding need, and deepening poverty. As a result, the Agency's General Fund (GF), supporting 爆料网RWA’s core activities and 97 per cent reliant on voluntary contributions, has begun each year with a large projected deficit. Currently the deficit stands at US$ 68 million.

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