Ramallah, Gaza – 30th of November "Joint Release": The UNESCO Office in Palestine, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, has launched the National Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Conference. Nine civil society organizations active in the field of media and information, media experts, educators and students participated in the Conference.
In his speech, Dr. Basri Saleh, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education welcomed the participants and presented the Ministry’s methodology in developing Media curriculum in accordance with UNESCO’s media and information international policies and guidelines. He demonstrated the importance of cooperation among the educational sectors in general. He also endorsed on behalf of the ministry all efforts combined together to develop school curriculums and ensured that it is in line with the Ministry’s strategy and shall continue to support its inclusion.
From the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mr. Samer Mousa, Head of Technical Education, demonstrated the role of the Ministry of Higher Education in the field of media and information; the support provided by the Ministry to the higher education institutes, whether at the level of students or professors or equipment; and the contributions made towards the development of research and scientific resources in this field.
On Behalf of Mrs. Noha Bawazir, Head of UNESCO Ramallah Office, Mrs. Lina Benete, Head of Education Sector, expressed her pleasure for this joint initiative, where partners are brought together to discuss the future of Media and information literacy in Palestine. Furthermore, Mrs. Benete mentioned the vital and substantial role UNESCO has been playing in this field since the General Conference’s endorsement of the Global Week of Media and Information Literacy initiated by UNESCO in 2011
Mrs. Hala Tannous, presented the outcomes and recommendations of the first Policy Paper which was carried out by UNESCO in collaboration with all attending partners. The policy paper included analysis of the Palestinian reality mapping of active partners who contributes to develop the media literacy sector, in association with the Arab and global context in general. This paper paves the way, as well as the conference for the development of an MIL National Policy.
From a Global perspective, Mr. Alton Grizzle, the Media and Information Literacy Officer at the UNESCO’s headquarter in France, presented the new UNESCO curriculum on information and media education.
The Conference included presentations from members of the MIL coalition, each on their area of specialty in the field. A group of experts active in the field of media and informatics education sector, as well as school and university students in the West Bank and Gaza, participated in the conference, shared their experiences.
Representatives from civil society and human rights organizations, as well as from the Government raised valid questions and enriched the discussion with suggestions and recommendations to be considered, especially considering adapting unified curriculums and a national MIL strategy.
The conference is part of the global Media and Information Literacy 2021 events, funded by the Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists (MDP)