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Religion in Israeli schools

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Education in Israel
Education Ministry
Minister of EducationYoav Kisch
National education budget (2015)
Budget45.5 billion[1]
General details
Primary languagesHebrew, Arabic
System typeState and privatized
Literacy (2014[2])
Total97.8%
Male98.7%
Female95.8%
Enrollment
Total1,445,555
Primary828,732
Secondary259,139
Post secondary357,685
Attainment
Secondary diploma85%[4]
Post-secondary diploma49%[3]

Religion in Israeli schools refers to the presence, influence or instruction of religion and its related subjects at educational institutions in Israel. The Israeli government recognizes schools providing religious education, including publicly-funded or privatized. Education in Israel, at all age levels through tertiary, accommodates religious schools and the teaching of religion, coordinated with the supervised structure and mandated curriculum set by the Israeli Ministry of Education. Religion plays a role in the formal and some informal education of all students in Israel.[5]

Religious studies in schools

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Under state education, Israeli families are directed to choose a public school based on their student's primary language as well as their religious affiliation.[citation needed] There are four main Israeli schooling sectors: Arabic-language schools, Haredi Jewish schools, government-managed secular (Hiloni) schools, and government-managed religious schools.[6] Arabic schools primarily comprise Arab teachers, and Hebrew is taught only as a second language. The split in Israeli schools based on ethnic identification has likewise largely led to a divide on specific religious studies. In Jewish Israeli schools, Judaism is seen as a crucial part of the heritage and culture of Israel, and the teaching of Jewish holidays and religious practices is seen as crucial to the understanding of the state in all aspects. The Torah and other Jewish scriptures are studied in a critical manner to enable students to intimately understand the identity of Israel's Jewish-majority population. In 2007, the Public Committee for Bible Education was established to further encourage the teachings of the Bible in order to bridge the growing gap between the secular and religious members of Israeli society.[7]

Educational disadvantages for Haredim and Arabs

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There are large divides in educational achievements between the majority of the population of Israel and the subgroups of the population, particularly in the Haredi Jewish and the Arabic-speaking sectors. A 2016 study revealed a 51% completion rate of upper secondary education amongst Haredi Jewish students, compared to 82% amongst Arabic-speaking students and 98% amongst Hebrew-speaking non-Haredi Jewish students.[8][9] Regional demographics play a large role in educational achievements in the school system. State funding for the Israeli school system comes primarily from the government of Israel as well as local municipalities. Schools in wealthy regions provide on average 10–20 times more funding per student than in less affluent regions. Many schools in the Arabic-language education stream are not funded sufficiently.[10] In 2001, 82% of the Israeli Arab population was made up of Muslims, the majority of whom live on the outskirts of the main cities and in the northern villages that only hold approximately 10% of the Jewish population. Lack of financial means through less industrial development in these villages and declines in agriculture have decreased the opportunities for Arab Muslims to move to more populated and developed areas in Israel. Lack of migration has impaired the ability for young Arabs to attend higher-ranked schools and limited financial means has put more pressure on Arab students to be employed at a younger age. These factors have partly led to the inception of lower rates of success amongst the Muslim community of Israel. The OECD has reported that Israel will need to allocate greater levels of resource disbursements to reach minority populations and demographics in isolated areas.[citation needed] A plan from 2008–2011 provided additional resources for the Arab, Druze and Bedouin communities for teaching and infrastructure.[11]

Controversy in Israeli schools

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The uneven distribution of resources and disadvantaged students in different communities in Israel has been studied by the OECD.[12] While Israeli schools back all religious programs, and the Ministry of Education has a set of guidelines, the vast differences in schools has created major divides across the state. Schools vary in size, funding, teacher qualities, and class structures, so that educations between schools are hard to compare and even harder to evaluate.[citation needed] This becomes more complicated when trying to compare students from schools that teach different religious historical backgrounds (i.e. Islam in Arab schools and Judaism in Jewish schools). Furthermore, a recent study found that the rising budget cuts to both secular and religious state schools drove up the number of students who attended private institutions for religious or academic studies, and critics argue that this creates a bigger divide among the wealthier and lower classes, primarily the Muslim and Jewish populations. Critics argue that a bigger wedge between varying religions cause further divide among the different ethnicities within the state, causing long-term tension.[13]

References

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  1. ^ Moti Bassok (8 October 2014). "Cabinet approves $88 billion budget for 2015". Haaretz. Retrieved 4 July 2015.
  2. ^ "The World Factbook". Globalis.gvu.unu.edu. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved 2017-07-18.
  3. ^ "Key Facts For Israel". Keepeek. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Education OECD Better Life". OECD. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  5. ^ Educational Stratification among Arabs and Jews in Israel: Historical Disadvantage, Discrimination, and Opportunity Barbara S. Okun and Dov Friedlander Population Studies, Vol. 59, No. 2 (Jul., 2005), pp. 163-180 Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of the Population Investigation Committee Article Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/30040454
  6. ^ See for e.g. https://www.jpost.com/opinion/olim-parents-need-to-learn-about-israeli-schools-and-share-ideas-565253
  7. ^ Asher, Maoz. "Religious Education in Israel." Tel Aviv University Law School. 44 (2007): 678-728. Print. <http://law.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1044&context=taulwps>.4
  8. ^ "Education Policy Outlook: Country, Israel" (PDF). www.oecd.org. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  9. ^ Ibid, p.6
  10. ^ Ibid, p.16
  11. ^ Ibid, p.16.
  12. ^ "EDUCATION POLICY OUTLOOK: ISRAEL" (PDF). OECD. April 2016.
  13. ^ "OVER A THIRD OF ISRAEL'S PRIMARY SCHOOLS OFFER PRIVATE CLASSES. EDUCATION THAT'S NEITHER FREE NOR EQUAL.." The Jerusalem Post. (January 20, 1989, Friday): 1296 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web. Date Accessed: 2013/04/29.