The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has announced the launch of the Right to Education Marathon: United against Scholasticide, under the ministry's patronage. The initiative is spearheaded by Birzeit University, Birzeit University Friends Association, the Higher Council for Youth and Sports, and Taawon, and organized by Palestinian higher education institutions.
This marathon is a response to the occupation's practices, marking over a year since the devastating attack on the Gaza Strip. It aims to work collectively to ensure that students in Gaza retain their right to university education and to reject all plans targeting the erasure of academic institutions. The organizers view this event as a shared national responsibility that necessitates unified action to support universities and colleges in Gaza and to stand against scholasticide.
Participants will launch the marathon as a major national and international campaign, organizing marathons in all Palestinian higher education institutions across the West Bank’s governorates. This will coincide with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, observed on Friday, November 29, 2024.
This initiative responds to the call from Gaza's universities to resist the ongoing campaign of scholasticide in Palestine, particularly in Gaza. It also aligns with the unified call from Palestinian universities advocating for justice and freedom in Palestine. Amid intensified campaigns of oppression, movement restrictions in the West Bank, and the continuous attacks on the education sector, the repercussions are evident in a systematic effort to obliterate knowledge. The occupation has deliberately targeted and destroyed the infrastructure of universities and colleges in Gaza, systematically aiming to hinder its academic cadres and deprive future generations of education.
In solidarity with Gaza, the activities will begin from universities in the West Bank, with participation from regional and international universities, advocacy groups, students, academics, and international activists, both virtually and on-site. Influencers on social media platforms will also participate, raising the slogan of the right to education and rejecting scholasticide to support higher education institutions in Gaza.
The proceeds from all marathon activities will go towards supporting students in higher education institutions in Gaza. This will be facilitated by Taawon, under the supervision and guidance of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and in coordination with Gaza’s universities and colleges, to bolster their resilience and continuity.
Tickets for participation will be available electronically, along with options for local and international donations, starting on November 16, 2024. Access to tickets and additional donations can be made through the following channels:
• Taawon’s official website: https://www.taawon.org/en/marathon
• Authorized Jawwal agents located across all governorates in Palestine.
• For more information about the marathon, please visit the official Palestine Marathon website: Right to education marathon