Dedication of the New Education Building at Bethlehem University Bethlehem University, the first university founded in Palestine, is a Catholic coeducational institution whose mission is to provide quality higher education to the people of Palestine and to serve them in its role as a center for the advancement, sharing and use of knowledge. As part of its on-going efforts to meet the educational needs of the Palestinian society, new undergraduate majors, master degree programs, and professional diplomas have been introduced at Bethlehem University during the past 10 years that have resulted in a 45% increase in enrollment. To house these new academic programs, research and community outreach activities, and especially to accommodate the new multi-million dollar Faculty of Education project designed to improve education in Palestine, Bethlehem University successfully secured funding to construct a new building primarily for the use of the Faculty of Education. We are most grateful for the lead gift for this construction project received through the Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura (FPSC), the Agencia Española de Cooperación International Para El Desarrollo, the Ministerio De Asuntos Exteriores Y De Cooperación, and the Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain. Additional major gifts have come from the • American people through USAID, • Grand Magesterium of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem located in the Vatican, • German Lieutenancy of Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, • Church of the Archdiocese of Cologne. The Georges Wick Foundation of Switzerland, Dr. Salwa Khoury from the United Arab Emirates, Friends of Bethlehem University in the United Arab Emirates, the Friends of Bethlehem University in the United Kingdom, and Pax Christi im Bistum Essen in Germany also contributed to this project.
Improving the Quality of Primary and Secondary Education in Palestine Thanks to the funding support of the Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura (FPSC) and Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) and the engagement of the Palestinian Ministry of Education, Bethlehem University is building upon its successes from its 2007-2010 Quality of Education for all through Partnership Project and expanding its efforts in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the northern Hebron educational directorates with its 20102014 Improving the Quality of Primary and Secondary Education in Palestine Project. While the first project from 2007-2010 focused on 15 schools, this new and expanded project from 2010-2014 involves 118 schools in the middle and southern West Bank: 58 of which are direct partners and an additional 60 which are indirect beneficiaries. The schools involved represent the private (including Catholic and Christian), UNRWA, and public government sectors. Upwards of 22,000 students and 1,100 teachers as well as 5,000 parents and 180 Bethlehem University students in training to be teachers are beneficiaries of this new four year program. The project’s aim is to promote education for gender equity, human rights, democracy, cultural identity and diversity, and environmental protection. • More than 6,000 hours of professional training and supervision, including 300 hours focused on children with special educational needs, are being provided.
• Recreational Summer Camps focused on remedial teaching in English, Arabic and Math are being provided. • Teacher Resource Centers with enhanced computer technology and other educational materials and diagnostic tools are being established at Bethlehem University and throughout the directorates of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and North Hebron. • Video documentaries about real issues faced by special needs students, teachers and parents in the educational process are being produced. • Collaborative local and international networks of teachers, students, parents and community leaders are being strengthened. • Public lectures and forums focused on new technologies and education, including a conference on “The New Proposed Tawjihi System,” a “School Administration: Toward Improving Learning and Teaching Pedagogies in Schools” workshop, and specialized teaching methodologies focused on Inclusive Special Education are being provided. • Scholarships or the Higher Diploma in Methods of Teaching are being offered for 150 in-service teachers. • A higher degree program in Special Education is also being developed at Bethlehem University.
• Palestinian educators are enhancing teaching skills and pedagogy in Special Education as well as in Technology and Media Education.
The nearly two year excavation and construction process for the new education building began in the Spring of 2010 and concluded with the building going into service in January 2012. The new Education Building is accessible by four entrances which are on three floors of its four floors. It has eight classrooms, six of which have folding partitions allowing them to be expanded for double the size, and all equipped with the latest in teaching technology. To accommodate the Improving Education in Palestine Project, the new building includes a Teacher Resource Center, office space for 18 faculty members and the Dean of Education. NOUR design & print
Ceremony of Dedication and Blessing
All Respond
And with your spirit.
Priest The engagement of teachers and students at Bethlehem University is a sacred work through which hearts and minds are transformed. O God, we ask you to + bless our administrators, faculty, staff and students as they foster shared values, moral principles, and dedication to serving the common good. All Respond We are grateful for the commitment and dedication of all parents and teachers. May their efforts to teach the young throughout Palestine always be supported by our governments and the public sector. And may God bring success to the work of our hands. Priest Blessed are You, Our Loving God, who gather us here today to dedicate this new Education Building at Bethlehem University. We are mindful of the words of Holy Scripture: “If the Lord does not build the house in vain do its builders labor.” We ask you to + bless those whose labor and skill designed and built this new Education Building. May all who come here to teach and to learn always seek the truth and recognize in You, our one God, the source of truth and goodness. All Respond We are grateful for our graduates as they assume leadership in the service of the people of Palestine. May they always be witnesses of truth for the promotion of human society. Priest May God almighty + bless the people of Palestine, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and the United States of America whose generosity and hard work have brought us together today. May God bless us all and kindly receive the desires of our hearts. May God give us trust in him, regard our work with kindness, and watch over our lives. All Respond
Amen
Ceremony of Dedication and B l e s s i n g
Priest May the grace and peace of God, the Source of all Wisdom, of Jesus, the Word of God made Incarnate here in Bethlehem, and of the Spirit of Truth, be with you always.
With gratitude to the people of Germany, Spain, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and the United States of America With appreciation to the donors whose generosity enabled this Education Building to be constructed and furnished Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura with Agencia Española de Cooperación International Para El Desarrollo Ministerio De Asuntos Exteriores Y De Cooperación, Autonomous Community of Madrid, Spain The People of the United States of America through the United States Agency for International Development
Dedication Ceremony Program Master of Ceremonies Dr. Michael Sansur Executive Vice President National Anthem A Word of Welcome and Gratitude from the Vice Chancellor Brother Peter Bray, FSC EdD Vice Chancellor Improving the Quality of Primary and Secondary Education in Palestine Mr. Rizek Sleibi Dean of Faculty of Education Impact of the Improving of Education Project Mr. Sami Maroua Head of Bethlehem Directorate of the Palestinian Ministry of Education Greetings from Lead Benefactors Madame Pilar Lara Alen President of Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura (FPSC) H.E. Mr. Michael Ratney Consul General of the United States of America, Jerusalem
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, Grand Magisterium, Vatican
H.E. Mr. Alfonso Portabales Consul General of Spain, Jerusalem
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Germany
His Eminence Edwin Fredrick Cardinal O’Brien Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem Blessing of the Education Building
The People of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne, Germany
Brother Peter Bray, FSC, EdD, Vice Chancellor Dr. Irene Hazou, Academic Vice President Mr. Rizek Sleibi, Dean of Faculty of Education
Georges Wick Foundation, Switzerland
His Eminence Edwin Fredrick Cardinal O’Brien Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem
Dr. Salwa Khoury, United Arab Emirates Friends of Bethlehem University in the United Arab Emirates Friends of Bethlehem University in the United Kingdom Pax Christi im Bistum Essen, Germany
His Excellency Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto Apostolic Delegate and Chancellor of Bethlehem University His Beatitude Archbishop Fuad Twal Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Tour and Reception Mr. Rizek Sleibi Dean of Faculty of Education Mr. Nabil Mufdi Director, Institute of Hotel Management and Tourism