"States should, where appropriate, take measures in the field
of education, in order to encourage knowledge of the history,
traditions, language and culture of the minorities existing within
their territory. Persons belonging to minorities should have adequate
opportunities to gain knowledge of the society as a whole" [Declaration
on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and
Linguistic Minorities, UN]
"Education shall be directed to the full development of the human
personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms {…} Parents have a prior right to choose the
kind of education that shall be given to their children" [Universal
Declaration of Human rights, 1948]
The Project
The Arab educational system in Israel lacks the major
components that can make it operate for the benefit of the children and
contribute to the development of society. The rate of students graduating from
high schools is decreasing and the dropout rate is increasing annually. School
facilities, teaching teams and the subjects taught are well below all acceptable
standards, especially in comparison with those in the Jewish community. There is
an urgent need to convert this system into a developmental tool, which is open,
democratic and attentive. To this end, the program intends to employ the
parents' right, protected by Israeli law and humanitarian international law, to
intervene and act as a lobbying entity to change the current situation. This
national program is going to establish parents' groups, raise their awareness,
train them, prepare an action plan and propose to the Ministry of Education
alternative curricula for Arab schools.
Arab Farmers
Project
