by Ana, Yanoun team

The exams period during primary and secondary school is a very stressful period to all children and teenagers, no matter if they live in Germany, South Africa or in Uruguay. For Palestinian students, however, this is an extra stressful period of the year.

The Headmaster of As Sawiya School talks to soldiers as they prevented children from getting to school on 3 December 2014. Photo EAPPI/A. Tesche.

Israeli soldiers and authrities outside As Sawiya School. Photo EAPPI/A, Tesche.

During exam periods, the Israeli army often increases their presence in and around Palestinian schools. Hyped-up by their encounters with the soldiers, it is extremely difficult for students to concentrate on their studies in the classroom.

Soldiers lay down while outside As Sawiya School. Photo EAPPI/B. Viney-Wood.

Soldier light up a cigarette while outside As Sawiya School. Photo EAPPI/B. Viney-Wood.

EAPPI does school runs as part of its Access to Education initiative, which aims to guarantee children’s access to education despite the hardships of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. The aim of the school runs is to offer protective presence to children on their way to and from school and monitor human rights violations against the children.

On 3 December, we witnessed first-hand the difficulties of going to school for Palestinian children during exam periods. On this day, Israeli soldiers prevent children and teachers from getting to school. We arrived on the scene at 7:40 am and stayed until all were allowed to enter school around 8:15 am. 

When asked why they closed the school, soldiers responded that there had been stone throwing the day before. The headmaster of the school informed us, however, that he was at school the previous day until 2pm and there had been no stone throwing.

Israeli soldiers watch as boys walk to As sawiya school. Photo EAPPI/R. Viney-Wood.

Boys wait to get to As Sawiya school. Photo EAPPI/R. Viney-Wood.

School girls ask why they are not allowed to go to As Sawiya school. Photo EAPPI/R. Viney-Wood.

Israeli soldiers walk towards As Sawiya school. Israeli soldiers are frequently present as children go to and from school in As Sawiya. During exam time, they increase their presence. Photo EAPPI/R. Viney-Wood.

Female teachers ask soldiers why they are not allowed to go to As Sawiya school. Photo EAPPI/R. Viney-Wood.

*Find more Access to Education resources.