Editing UNRWA (section)

=== Education programme ===
Education is UNRWA's largest area of activity, accounting for more than half its regular budget and the majority of its staff.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Education|url=https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805170547/https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education|url-status=live}}</ref> It operates one of the largest school systems in the Middle East, spanning 711 elementary and preparatory schools, eight vocational and technical schools, and two teacher training institutes.<ref name=":4" /><ref>[http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education From UNRWAs page and sub-pages about its educational programmes and sub-pages ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902043535/http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education |date=2 September 2014 }}; no update date shown, accessed 2014-08-25. [http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/knowledge-and-skills Within the pages on education programmes, UNRWA tells about special knowledge and skills] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140719215937/http://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/knowledge-and-skills |date=19 July 2014 }}; no update date shown, accessed 2014-08-25</ref> It has been the main provider of basic education to Palestinian refugee children since 1950. Free basic education is available to all registered refugee children, currently numbering 526,000.<ref name=":4"/> In the 1960s, UNRWA schools became the first in the region to achieve full gender equality,<ref>{{Cite web|title=gender equity|url=https://www.unrwa.org/content/gender-equity|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225102653/https://www.unrwa.org/content/gender-equity|url-status=live}}</ref> and a slight majority of enrolled students are female.<ref name=":4" />

Half the Palestine refugee population is under 25. Overcrowded classrooms containing 40 or even 50 pupils are common. Almost three-quarters run on a double-shift system, where two separate groups of pupils and teachers share the same buildings, thus reducing teaching time. The school year is often interrupted by conflicts, prompting UNRWA to develop a special programme that provides education in emergency situations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Education in emergencies|url=https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education-emergencies|access-date=2020-08-13|website=UNRWA|language=en|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728165846/https://www.unrwa.org/what-we-do/education-emergencies|url-status=live}}</ref>

Per the longstanding agreement, UNRWA schools follow the curriculum of their host countries. This allows UNRWA pupils to progress to further education or employment holding locally recognised qualifications and complies with the sovereignty requirements of countries hosting refugees. Wherever possible, UNRWA students take national exams conducted by the host governments.