East Jerusalem schools face permit cuts and curriculum shifts
Teachers from the West Bank risk losing access, while enrollment in the Israeli curriculum rises to nearly 40 percent of the student body.
By Robert Marshall ·
Jamal Shalabi has crossed Israeli checkpoints to teach chemistry in East Jerusalem for 28 years. His administration informed him that his entry permit will be revoked when it expires at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. He is one of 180 Palestinian teachers from the West Bank facing the same fate.
The restrictions have disrupted school operations for years. In September of 2025, permits were not issued until the 15th, two weeks into the term. Shalabi noted that rules introduced since the 2023 Gaza war limit teachers to specific hours and workplaces. He said these rules prevent visits to Al-Aqsa Mosque and participation in school trips. Teachers were also denied entry for a full week during the recent Sukkot holiday.
An Israeli government plan aims to narrow socioeconomic gaps in East Jerusalem. It links funding for new schools to the adoption of the Israeli curriculum. The human rights organization Ir Amim states that roughly half of the plan's education budget supports this expansion. The group argues the policies weaken Palestinian educational autonomy and national identity.
Enrollment in the Israeli curriculum has risen sharply. It grew from hundreds of students 15 years ago to more than 10,000 in 2020. Palestinian officials reported nearly 20,000 students in 2024. Ir Amim cites figures showing more than 27,000 in 2025. For the current academic year, estimates put the number at more than 45,000 students. That represents about 38 percent of the city's student population.
A principal in East Jerusalem, who spoke anonymously to avoid repercussions, described the expansion as the result of years of control efforts. He said authorities inspect schoolbags to confiscate Palestinian textbooks and intervene in staff appointments. He also noted that threats target students over personal social media posts. Israeli authorities did not respond to a request for comment.
Classroom shortages compound the pressure. Ir Amim calculates that East Jerusalem lacks 2,283 classrooms. It projects that 1,100 will still be missing by 2032 even if municipal construction plans are finished. The Jerusalem Municipality estimates the current deficit at about 1,500 classrooms. Ir Amim disputes that figure as outdated.
Ramadan Awad, a spokesperson for the Union of Parents’ Committees, said some classes hold up to 42 students. He said schools rent apartments or commercial spaces to house pupils. These buildings often lack courtyards, laboratories, and spaces for extracurricular activities.
