Educated as a statistician, Shalabi accepted a function in the planning department of the Birzeit University on the West Bank as a statistical information officer. After a master's course at TO in 1995, he successfully applied there for a PhD. Two years of data gathering at elementary schools on the West Bank preceded his arrival in Holland. Here he will finish his research project into effective elementary schooling by analysing the data he collected. His goal is to improve the measurement tools to analyse school-effectiveness.
For Mr. Shalabi it was a logical step to start a PhD. His background as a statistician gave him a solid basis on which he could develop his methodological and conceptual knowledge. A PhD also provides him with better chances on the labour market, especially in a poor region like Palestine. 'With the title I will have more possibilities to find a good position. The political situation permitting, of course.'
Shalabi also has an ideological reason for his PhD studies. When he finishes his studies, he plans to go back. Being a well-educated researcher will make him more equipped to develop the society on the West Bank. 'By improving schools you improve the whole society. Schools are the basis from which other sectors of the economy will develop.'
Thus, his goal is to end up in a non-profit organisation like a research centre or institute 'I have a lot of possibilities there, in all sorts of educational research. However, for me money is only secondary. I was meant to be a researcher, no matter where.'
