This updated May 2021 IMPACT-se study analyzed textbooks used for the 2020-21 Palestinian curriculum (West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem and UNRWA) and includes selected examples from the research of 222 textbooks. Of those, 105 textbooks have not changed at all and remain as they were in 2019. Essentially, there were that no substantive positive changes made to the current Palestinian curriculum. Textbooks remain openly antisemitic and continue to encourage violence, jihad and martyrdom while peace is still not taught as preferable or even possible. Based on IMPACT-se’s UNESCO-derived standards of peace and tolerance, our findings show that the new PA curriculum does not meet these international standards and in some cases have even added more problematic content, compared to the previous curriculum.
The 2020–21 Palestinian School Curriculum Grades 1–12—Selected Examples
March 7, 2021
Recommended Research
Review of the Jordanian Curriculum 2025-2026
Aug 11, 2026
REGIONS
As Houthi violence continues to make headlines, its roots can be seen by analyzing Houthi educational materials from a decade ago.
In mathematics materials from 2015–2019 documented by IMPACT-se, children learn numbers by counting images bearing the Houthi slogan, which includes
Last week, IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff addressed parliamentarians and policymakers at the House of Lords in London and the French Senate in Paris as part of a delegation of experts on countering extremism, facilitated by @TrendsRA_
Marcus highlighted the essential role of
In a recent article for @NRO, Perpperdine Univeristy (@pepperdine) President Jim Gash and Jeremy Tate, founder of the @CLT_Exam challenge the idea that schools should teach students how to think, rather than what to think.
They argue that education is never entirely neutral:
We are pleased to share that IMPACT-se participated in the 5th Paris Conference on Education (PCE2026), hosted by the The International Academic Forum (@iafor) at Sorbonne University.
Bringing together scholars, educators and policymakers from around the world, the conference
In a recent interview with @dailystarnews, Shireen Huq, a prominent women’s rights activist in Bangladesh, raises important questions about gender and inclusion in education—from the stereotypes embedded in what girls and boys are taught, to body shaming in textbooks and the role
As Syria's new leadership seeks closer engagement with Western governments, its education reforms offer an early indication of the country's future direction. This analysis examines what recent curriculum changes reveal about the regime's ideological priorities—from attitudes
A recent analysis from @PeaceNewsNet examines school textbooks in Iraqi Kurdistan and argues that they could do more to reflect the histories and experiences of the region's diverse ethnic and religious communities, including Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, Armenians, Yazidis, and
Every IMPACT-se researcher brings a unique lens to the study of education and society.
Asher Spekterman is a professional Arabic translator and researcher, specializing in Middle Eastern conflicts. He has extensive experience teaching Arabic translation and researching



