The Department of Social Sciences at Bethlehem University launched a new book titled “Social Work Curriculum including Child Protection Modules” in partnership with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia, the Ministry of Social Development, and the Islamic University in Gaza.
Through this curriculum, the Department aims to “provide local and international academics and child protection actors an important reference and resource for working with children in need of protection. The curriculum is a teaching tool for social work students, and specialized training material for teachers, social workers, and parents.”
The launching ceremony which was held virtually via Zoom on Thursday, 26 November 2020, included a number of academic interventions. Ms. Minerva Jaraysah, Instructor at the Social Science Department, conducted the meeting.
The Executive Vice President Rev. Dr. Iyad Twal participated in a paper on the role of higher education in building resilient governments and providing high-quality services.
The Director of Family Affairs at the Ministry of Social Development, Asim Khamis, emphasized the importance of a strong social workforce in protecting children’s rights: the case of the State of Palestine.
Ms. Lucia Elmi, UNICEF Special Representative to the State of Palestine, and Mr. Ted Chaiban, UNICEF MENA Regional Director stressed the need to complete the curriculum, strengthen social welfare systems and services, and invest in strengthening the regional social welfare workforce.
A film prepared by the Department of Social Sciences was shown during the ceremony, reflecting the experience of social service students in studying and applying the concepts of child protection.
Chair of the Department of Social Sciences, Dr. Ferdoos Abed Rabbo Al-Issa spoke about the process of developing the child protection curriculum and future plans to maintain its sustainability, application and generalization. She also thanked the academic staff in the department for their commitment and hard work in achieving this curriculum.
Dr. Amjad Al-Mufti, Head of the Social Service Department at Islamic University of Gaza, talked about Gaza’s experience in experimenting the curriculum.
We thank the faculty members of the Department of Social Sciences at Bethlehem University for all their efforts and long hours of dedicated work in preparing the curriculum.