RAMALLAH, March 13, 2017 (WAFA) – Palestinian schools in occupied East Jerusalem said on Monday that they will observe a one-day strike on Tuesday to protest dictates by the Israeli municipality of West Jerusalem.

The schools were told to shut down for Spring vacation at the same time the Israeli schools go on holiday, which the Palestinian Ministry of Education said would interfere with its high school exam, tawjihi, schedule for the Palestinian schools.

The ministry said the new Israeli interference in the Palestinian schools‘ schedule is political and aimed at undermining the education these schools provide.

It said it strongly opposes the new Israeli dictates and program, saying “they are part of the war Israel is waging against education in Jerusalem,” which, it added, “is a violation of all conventions and laws that call for the right to education.”

The ministry said it will coordinate its steps with the parents associations in East Jerusalem to confront this development.

The West Jerusalem municipality is also trying to impose Israeli curriculum on Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem and had already censored many of the school textbooks provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Education by removing entire pages it deemed offensive to its occupation.

M.K.