Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., June 01, 2008 Iyyar 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 15:44 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Education Minister Yuli Tamir. (Archives) Last update - 09:19 01/06/2008 Education Minister comes up with booster plan for Arab schools By Or Kashti, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Education Ministry  Education Minister Yuli Tamir last week received recommendations for a comprehensive education plan for the Arab community, part of which is to be implemented in the next school year. The plan involves major reforms and a large investment, reflecting "recognition of a multi-year injustice which must be corrected," said the Education Ministry official said. Drafted jointly by the ministry and the education committee within the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, the plan consists of reforms in Arabic instruction and Arabic-language matriculation exams, updating study programs, treating learning disabilities and building numerous classrooms. Its implementation, which will spread over several years, is estimated to cost billions of shekels. Advertisement The plan was initiated following the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee's threat to paralyze Arab schools on the eve of the present school year. The ministry agreed to set up four joint committees, which would focus on the needs of the Arabic education system. After receiving the committees' reports, the ministry set up swift implementation teams to work, among other things, with the various ministries, especially the Finance Ministry. "We're not dealing with mere goodwill but with a commitment for a large investment," a ministry official said. However, a source in the Arab committee said: "Tamir and the Education Ministry still have to prove they mean business. If the work is carried out seriously, it could have far reaching results." The first joint committee "to examine achievements" recommended a reform in Arab language instruction, especially in the lower classes. It proposes teaching Arabic only in first and second grade and postponing Hebrew instruction to third grade and English to fourth grade (today Hebrew is taught earlier). It also recommends continuing the instruction in core subjects past second grade and adding 300 truancy officers. The committee for study programs dealt with the Arabic language's declining status, recommending raising Arabic language matriculation exam's mandatory level from three to four units and distinguishing between spoken and literary Arabic. "This would equalize Arabic language's status with Hebrew's in matriculation certificates and strengthen the younger generation's command of its mother tongue," the committee wrote. The committee dealing with classroom shortage noted that 9,236 classrooms must be built by 2012. This will require a NIS 3.6 billion addition to the Education Ministry's budget, which provides for the construction of some 3,100 classrooms, as part of the government's five-year plan released about 18 months ago. The fourth budget focused on treating learning disabilities in the Arab community. It recommends developing methods especially adjusted to the Arabic language to spot and diagnose these disabilities. The committee urged recognizing children suffering from learning disabilities in nursery school and the lower grades. Related articles: Lev Leviev's religion classes still taught despite two government bans Poor grades? Maybe kids just don't get the question Education Ministry drops Arabic studies from core curriculum Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bad immigrant Hezbollah spy said he acted as a 'Lebanese patriot and a Muslim.' When (he's) in Rome Israel to launch PR campaign against Ahmadinejad visit to UN summit in Rome.   1.   The Waqf of Jewish Education 03:30  |  Zalmi 01/06/08   2.   Education - a tool for understanding 08:07  |  English Resident 01/06/08   3.   Tamir and her education priorities 08:13  |  Raymond in DC 01/06/08   4.   Israeli taxpayers forced to educate the terrorists of tomorrow. 08:51  |  Chaim 01/06/08   5.   My son served in combat. 15:41  |  Yaakov 01/06/08

Read & React Hezbollah: We handed bodies of fallen IDF soldiers to Red Cross Responses: 81 Barak and Olmert delay cabinet vote on Gaza Strip cease-fire Responses: 35 Israel urges EU: Show 'caution' in contacts with Damascus Responses: 32 Olmert: I won't block primaries; Kadima seeks early vote Responses: 18 Former minister and journalist Yosef Lapid dies at 77 Responses: 23 Rosner's Domain The next seven months in the Middle East Will the international community abandon Lebanon? Poll: What political option is better for Israel? The J Street test for Congress members Senior advisor to presidential candidate: get used to nuclear Iran (WTR) More Headlines 15:25 Hezbollah: We handed over bodies of fallen Israeli soldiers 14:26 Cabinet minister and journalist Yosef Lapid dies aged 77 13:21 IDF soldier moderately wounded by Palestinian fire in south Gaza 11:26 Israel to build over 800 new homes in East Jerusalem areas 10:39 Report: Livni hunted Palestinian terrorists for Mossad in Europe 15:40 How Israeli hi-tech guru inspired Google 'magic formula' 12:48 Experts fear nuclear know-how circulating on black market 13:36 Yishai: Political crisis harming ability to make security choices 09:10 Obama quits his church over pastor's racially charged views 08:02 Barak and Olmert delay cabinet vote on Gaza Strip cease-fire 08:28 Israel urges EU: Show 'caution' in contacts with Damascus 07:47 Arab birth rate on decline in Jerusalem 11:17 French court annuls Muslim's marriage because wife not a virgin Previous Editions Select Day 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may 19 may 18 may

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Products Buy Dead Sea mineral skin care and beauty products. Coupon code Haaretz for 10% off. Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Istudy Learn Hebrew in 3 months The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Together Celebrating Israel's 60th The Jewish Agency and You - together making history Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved