GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — To help contain the spread of the coronavirus, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in the Gaza Strip has launched a media campaign to encourage students to use the online courses broadcast on its media outlets, Rawafid website and Voice of Education Radio. 

The radio outlet, which was established in 2012 to broadcast live 12th-grade lessons, was upgraded early this year with improved equipment and technology. Virtual classes have been greatly expanded since Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency March 5 to counter COVID-19, closing all schools and universities.

Gaza universities, such as the University of Palestine, Al-Quds Open University, the Islamic University of Gaza and Gaza University, have also called on their students to follow the universities' e-learning programs.

Speaking to Al-Monitor, Voice of Education Radio director Tamer al-Sharif said that once the state of emergency was declared, the radio station promptly began including lessons for all grades in its broadcasts, banking on the success of the previous streaming videos of higher-level courses. He added that the interactive live broadcasts of the lessons help to improve students' understanding of the subjects.