US to fund Palestinian media development Press Trust of India Washington, February 11|11:48 IST

The US Middle East Partnership Initiative has announced an award of USD 675,000 in support of Palestinian independent media and the bi-weekly production and broadcast of a television news magazine.

The series, which will be carried on eleven independent stations, it said, will focus on peaceful political participation, social responsibility, and gender equality.

Non-profit organization 'Search for Common Ground' will administer the award, the US State Department announced in Washington.

In October, another grant was given to the Educational Testing Service to develop and implement English as second language curriculum in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Education and the Arab-American University, Jenin.

University faculty will conduct interviews to select lead teachers and begin to schedule teacher training. English as a Second Language curriculum is being developed specifically for Palestinian students as a result of this grant.

The Middle East Partnership Initiative is a Presidential initiative that supports political, economic and educational reform efforts in the Middle East and expanded opportunity for the people of the region, especially women and youth.