Studies show that US coverage is Israeli-centric. The main bureaus for CNN, Associated Press, Time, etc. are located in Israel and often staffed by Israelis. The son of the NY Times bureau chief is in the Israeli army;"pundit" Jeffrey Goldberg served in the IDF; Wolf Blitzer worked for AIPAC. Because the U.S. gives Israel over $8 million/day - more than to any other nation - we feel it is essential that we be fully informed on this region. Below are news reports to augment mainstream coverage.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

89,000 Palestinian students to take Tawjihi exam

Ma’an- Approximately 89,000 Palestinian students sat for the first session of the General Secondary Certificate, or Tawjihi, in the West Bank and Gaza on Wednesday.

Education Minister Lamis Al-Alami said that of the 88,768 registered test takers, 52 percent were women. Of the total number of students, 52,367 were from the West Bank and 36,401 were from Gaza.

The Tawjihi, administered every year for Palestinian students seeking the high school qualification, is required for those who wish to enter Palestinian universities. The score on the test determines which programs a would-be student can enter.

In 2011, 643 test halls across the West Bank and Gaza had been set up to host students, and 7,872 teachers had been contracted to correct the tests, Al-Alami said.

Record numbers of students with special needs were taking the test, Al-Alami noted, with 99 receiving support via sign language, exam writers or interpreters to sit the exams.
at 6/15/2011 01:51:00 PM