JENIN – On Wednesday, August 29, the Palestinian Ministry of Education celebrated the completion of the new Palestinian curriculum, including the Christian Catechism textbooks, under the auspices of Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Rami Al-Hamdallah and the Minister of Education Dr. Sabri Sidem, at the Arabic American University of Jenin.

During a well-organized ceremony, all the teachers who participated in the writing and development of new scholastic curriculum, including the teachers of Christian education who participated in the development of ecumenical Catechism textbooks, were honored by giving them all a certificate of appreciation from the Ministry of Education. For their tremendous efforts during these two years to complete this ambitious project.

We present this achievement in record time to our Churches in the Holy Land, which we hope will contribute to the development of a faith filled persons and good citizens. It is also a tribute to the spirit of Father Faisal Hijazin, may God have mercy on him, the former Secretary General of the Secretariat of Christian Schools, who was a great supporter of this initiative and the working committees.

We thank all the teachers who worked hard and diligently to achieve this result, and to the members of the ecumenical committee who have been working since 2012 to prepare the educational atmosphere to receive the decision of the ministry issued on 9/8/2018 to integrate the Catechism book for the General Secondary Exams. As well as our thanks to the General Secretariat of Christian Schools, represented by Father Iyad Twal, the current Secretary General who followed this file with the Ministry of Education.

To all those who contributed and cooperated in the realization of this project, our thanks and prayers. May God bless our efforts, and let His Holy Name be blessed now and forever.

By: Sr. Virginie Habib

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem