Volume 19, 2014
Jeffrey S. Burwell, S.J.
Pages 131-143
An Educational Crisis in the Land of Jesus
Unprecedented Challenges Facing Catholic Schools in East Jerusalem and the West Bank
The New Evangelization presumes that Catholic schools play a valuable role in spreading the gospel and transmitting the faith. For the first time in their collective history, demographic changes have nevertheless made it difficult for Catholic schools in East Jerusalem and the West Bank to do this. Using a mixed-method study with data obtained from fourteen institutions, this study determined that the mandate of these schools is affected by challenges related to their Catholic identity and financial stability. With limited resources at their disposal, administrators of these institutions are in a precarious situation. Without strong leadership and support from the international community, the future of Catholic education in the region is uncertain.