West Bank schools cut to three days a week amid ongoing financial crisis

Palestinian students in the West Bank are attending school for only three days a week, a reduction implemented for the fourth year in a row due to a severe financial crisis affecting the Palestinian Authority. In the town of al-Malih, Mahdi Daraghmeh sends his three children to elementary school on those limited days, while the rest of the week the institution remains closed. Daraghmeh noted that his children often spend the off days playing games on smartphones, which he believes causes them to forget much of what they have learned.

This part-time schedule is now standard for hundreds of thousands of students in PA government schools. The financial strain has also impacted educators, with many teachers receiving only 50 percent of their regular salaries for the past three years. A principal in the West Bank, who requested anonymity, stated that academic performance has declined because three days of instruction are insufficient. He described the situation as a dangerous sign for the future of education in the region.

The PA’s budget has been significantly undermined by Israel’s withholding of tax revenues. These funds previously averaged 700 million shekels per month and accounted for 60 percent of the PA budget. In September 2026, President Mahmoud Abbas announced that the amount held by Israel had reached 6 billion dollars. To manage the shortfall, the PA has delayed payments and reduced salaries for public sector employees, including over 40,000 teachers.

In September 2026, the Palestinian Finance Ministry announced that public sector employees would be paid for the previous June, but only at 50 percent of their normal salary or 2,000 shekels, whichever amount was higher. Earlier in 2023, teachers went on strike over these partial payments, but the crisis persisted. The PA subsequently issued a directive allowing public employees to work two days a week, leading to the current three-day school schedule in many facilities.

Recent data highlights the impact of these changes. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development released 2025 figures from the Program for International Student Assessment in early September. The results showed that proficiency in math and science among Palestinian 15-year-olds had fallen since 2022, while reading scores remained stable. Approximately 9,000 students participated in the tests. Palestinian scores fell well below the OECD average, placing them among the lowest globally in both 2022 and 2025.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel reported that even on open days, school hours are often shortened. The time dedicated to Arabic language curriculum has been reduced by nearly two-thirds. While high school matriculation passing rates remained stable in 2023 and 2024, the PA has not yet published figures for the most recent two years. Parents and grandparents have expressed concern over the long-term effects of the reduced schooling on their children’s futures.

The financial crisis has widened the gap between public and private education. Private schools, which charge tuition of several thousand shekels per year, remain open full weeks and provide transportation. In Ramallah, private school tuition is now around 10,000 shekels per child annually. A history teacher in the city said their daughter completed first grade without knowing her letters in Arabic or English, prompting the family to consider a move to a private institution despite rising costs.

Movement restrictions have further complicated access to government schools. Since October 2023, new checkpoints have made it difficult for students and teachers to reach their classrooms. In Hebron’s Jabari neighborhood, residents must detour through checkpoints to access schools that are physically close. Attendance at government schools in this area has dropped by 25 percent since the start of the war, with many students transferring to private schools.

The Palestinian Teachers’ Union chairman, Saad Erekat, linked a return to a full school week to the restoration of full salaries. He stated that teachers are seeking a deal with the PA, which has so far rejected proposals to prioritize teacher compensation. Erekat expressed concern that the system cannot operate on a reduced schedule indefinitely, describing the burden on employees as unbearable after five years.

The PA did not respond to requests for comment regarding plans to resolve the crisis. The financial challenges are compounded by debates over the curriculum, with some international observers citing inciting material in textbooks. However, local parents and union leaders argue that the primary issue is the lack of funding and time for education, rather than the content being taught.