Ministry of Education

The Israeli formal education system includes two separate education streams - a Hebrew-speaking and an Arabic speaking

Educational streams, both including state funded public schools. The structure and curricula of the Arabic speaking schools is very similar to those of the Hebrew-speaking schools as far as math, science, English etc. are concerned, with appropriate adjustments to fit the different languages, cultures and religions as far as the study of the humanities is concerned.

At the end of 2013, 74.4% of the students in Israel's elementary and high schools were Jewish, 23.4% of the students Arab (mainly Muslim), and the remaining 2.2% were Druze and other ethnic groups.

The education ministry operates the Arab education system for the Arab minority, teaching Arab students, in Arabic, about their history and culture. However, there have been claims that the Jewish education system receives more resources from the state. Moreover, the Education Ministry today has the challenge of addressing substantial gaps in education achievements between the two populations, mainly in Batrut Recipients and dropout rates.

The ministry is working according to a five year plan aimed to provide support in implementing the new curricula and translating – adapting it to the Arabic language.

In addition to providing budgets and pedagogic resources, the Ministry is operating a number of programs to enhance shared society between Jews and Arabs including  the Civics Studies and Shared living headquarters that is a result of the Kremnitzer Report  from 1995. The aims of the headquarters is to promote civics studies in the Education system, instill values of Democracy, active and responsible citizenship.