'Education gives hope to Palestinian kids'

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"The UNRWA-run schools encourage children to attend school 365 days a year, in the hope that it will keep them away from the clutches of religious fundamentalists," Menon said at a lecture organised by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) here.

Addressing the audience on the subject 'Educating Children in a Fragile Environment - Palestine Context', Menon said: "Palestinian children are extremely motivated about education. They think that education will provide them a way out of the mess, help them reach the US and lead a better life."

He added that providing quality education to children with special needs is a challenge.

"Children with special needs, who have faced stress and trauma, are not being covered through the education programmes. Arabic and mathematics remain problems for children. Another big problem is the issue of violence in schools," he said.

"But our focus is to use education as a recovery programme for the children there," Menon said.

The UNRWA provides elementary education up to Class 10 with emphasis on vocational training.