ISY Extended Essay
Student name
Wan Muhammad Affan
Research question (also indicate IB subject area)
To what extent does Hamas sponsor education in Gaza and to what extent does that result in the promotion of the use of violence against Israeli occupation among children in Gaza?
POLITICS
Why am I interested in this topic?
I am interested in politics, and in this case, the politics of education in Gaza. I want to know the truth, is Hamas more of a provider of education for the children of Gaza or is Hamas a teacher of violence?
Outline and main aim(s) of the extended essay
Finding out the validity of the claim that Hamas is brainwashing children instead of educating them in Gaza.
Focus questions
Is anti-Israel doctrines taught in schools such as in history lessons? Does this happen in all schools in Gaza? Does the Hamas government endorse this, is it their (official/secret) policy?
How many schools does Hamas operate in Gaza?
How equipped are the schools?
For what percentage of the population is it affordable for the people of Gaza to send their children to school?
What about the schools handled by the United Nations Relief Works agency (UNRWA), do these schools teach history lessons or lessons that glorify Hamas and sow hatred towards Israel?
How much does the Hamas government declare as its budget and how much is spent on education?
Hamas has a television channel called Al-Aqsa TV, is this channel promoting the use of violence to fight Israel to the children of Gaza?
Where will I find the information? (eg details of publications, journals, websites, organizations, human resources, etc)
Using Wikipedia links to find more sources of information
Hamas’s website
UNRWA website
CIA World Factbook
Books focused on Hamas’s in the period 2005-2011
What problems do I anticipate? How will I solve these problems?
There may, or may not be enough research material on Hamas’s education policy and practices in Gaza.
If there isn’t enough, I will slant the question to focus on another aspect of education, such as, how much more education is provided by Hamas relative what the PA provided before Hamas came to power in Gaza in 2007? How is it if a student wants to become a doctor, is there enough safe, equipped institution of higher learning in Gaza?
What needs to be done next?
Start making lists of useful websites on Hamas policy on education, ---start with Wikipedia.
Start finding books on Hamas.
Start finding answers to the focus questions.
Make more focus questions.
And repeat.
Then write.
My reflections on the extended essay adventure so far
The extended essay forces me to focus my mind on aspects of an issue that interests me most and choose that to write about because of the need to find an aspect of an issue that fits the subject area listed by the IBO. I find that to be interesting. But I also find that unpleasant because it makes me feel constricted at times.