The influence of the October 7, 2023 War on the Education of Students with Special Needs: A Qualitative Study on a Sample of Resource Room Teachers in Ramallah Governorate

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the influence of the October 7, 2023 war on the education of students with special needs from the perspective of resource room teachers in Ramallah Governorate and to propose solutions to ensure the continuity of special education services. The researcher conducted face-to-face interviews with special education teachers working in resource rooms in public schools under the Ministry of Education. A purposive sample of ten resource room teachers in Ramallah was interviewed. The researcher employed a qualitative descriptive approach in this study. The findings revealed several key points: the October 7 war significantly affected the education of students with special needs and the educational services provided to them; it damaged the infrastructure of institutions offering special education services; and it led to the loss of many qualified personnel capable of teaching students with special needs. The study also highlighted the importance of technology and artificial intelligence applications in educating students with special needs during conflicts and wars.One of the main recommendations of the study is to establish platforms that enable remote learning for students with special needs.