Analysis and Evaluation of Governmental School Buildings in the West Bank

The state of education in Palestine was and still suffering from various problem and obstacles related with the design of school buildings according to the basic standards and regulations concerning the area, number of classes and students as well as services. In order to deal with this situation, several governmental and non-governmental institutions, which appeared in the West Bank, have been trying to build schools. This study constitutes an analysis and evaluation of how much the governmental schools were able to deal with this situation by showing the proportion between the construction price and the ability to solve problems related students' achievement and performance from one side and the architectural design of school from the other side. In addition, the study aims at seeking the applicability of governmental Palestinian schools to standards of formal schools in other countries. The study is based upon three major parts. The first part includes the study of evolution of education and schools in Palestine with emphasis on the current situation in terms of types and characteristics of schools, and the range of meeting the population needs as well as identifying the problems and obstacles they are facing. In the second part, some theories, models and concepts concerning planning and design standards of schools are reviewed. Consequently, in the third part, the governmental schools in the West Bank are analyzed and evaluated according to theoretical bases in the second part. Then, certain results and recommendations are given in order to develop the current situation of education by improving the activity of schools and their applicability to planning and design standards. To achieve the aims of the study, the author used the historical descriptive research method while studying and reviewing the development and evolution of education in Palestine. Also, he depended on the filed survey of existing governmental schools in the West Bank, by using questionnaires, interviews and observations. Moreover, the author used the analytical method in analyzing and evaluating the collected data and identifying the positive and negative aspects as well as problems facing these schools in terms of buildings, students and teachers. As a result, the study indicated that the governmental schools in the West Bank are affected by various factors such as the location, area and the allocated financial resources. Also, it indicated the inapplicability of most of these schools to the applied planning and design standards. Finally, the study emphasized the necessity of building governmental schools on accurate bases in terms of the relation between the site of school and surrounding communities, and also the applicability to design standards and building regulations.