UNRWA Cuts West Bank School Week to Four Days Amid Financial Challenges

Gaza: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced on Sunday that it will reduce the school week in the West Bank to four days instead of five until the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, as part of austerity measures prompted by a severe financial crisis. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the decision is part of a broader package of measures affecting its five fields of operation, aimed at ensuring the continuation of essential services for Palestine refugees. UNRWA also decided to cut staff working hours by 20%, including in the education sector, while maintaining the minimum level needed to sustain the learning process. The agency stressed that these measures are temporary and time-bound until the end of the current academic year, affirming that efforts are ongoing to prevent any disruption to its vital services.