Birzeit University first offered a teacher education program in the 1970s. At that time it was called a teaching certificate program. It was the first Palestinian university to offer such a program.
Shortly thereafter, Birzeit University was also the first to offer a master’s program in education. At the beginning of the 2010/2011 school year, the Department of Education and Psychology developed into the Faculty of Education, which included the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. The Curriculum and Instruction Department offers programs that prepare teachers for upper basic school (grades 5 – 10). The faculty staff includes PhD holders from prestigious universities who teach, conduct research and provide educational and consulting services to the Palestinian community.
International Collaboration/ Projects
- Transforming Assessment Practices in Large Enrollment First Year Education )ongoing)
- Raising the Quality of Teacher Education Programs in Palestine.
- Teacher Education Improvement Project – TEIP- Upgrading Academic and Professional Teaching Qualification of Under-Qualified Class Teachers for Grades 1-4.
- Raising the Quality of Teacher Education Programs in Palestine.
- Teaching and Learning in Heterogeneous Classes.
Research Areas
Faculty members conduct research in the following areas:
- Science and mathematics education, especially teachers' knowledge and beliefs, the nature of scientific knowledge, use of case studies and video in education and training of teachers, students’ alternative concepts in science, the use of technology in education, representation and communication in the mathematical discourse.
- English language teaching, especially the acquisition of English as a foreign language, as well as teaching methods.
- Educational administration, particularly educational leadership and strategic planning.
- Other areas of education, such as democracy education, teacher professional development, and curriculum analysis and development.
University and Community Service
Faculty of Education offers services to the university community to improve teaching and learning at the university level, and offers training and consultative services to schools and educational institutions in Palestine.
