THE Israeli government has been accused of “systematic discrimination” against Arab pupils, as two reports reveal that Arab Israeli schools lag behind their Jewish counterparts in virtually all spheres and receive less money.

Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel learn in separate systems. The National Council for the Child has reported that in 20001, only 43 per cent of Arab four-year-olds were in pre-school, compared with 96 per cent of Jews. By age 17, 89 per cent of Jews were still in school, but only 71 per cent of Arabs. Arab classes were bigger, and drop-out rates among non-Jewish 14 to 18-year-olds were twice the all-pupil average. By the end of school in summer 2000, only 29 per cent of Arabs passed their matriculation exams, compared with 46 per cent of Jews.

The US-based Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of “systematic discrimination” against Arab pupils. Its research found that Arab schools received significantly less funding than Jewish ones. In 19992000, although 21.4 per cent of all pupils from kindergarten onwards were Israeli Arab, only 18.4 per cent of total teaching hours (a term that translates into funding) was allocated to them.

Jewish parents were able to dig deeper into their pockets to help reduce class sizes, add hours in particular subjects, improve school infrastructure, and pay for after-school activities. The result? Arab children received fewer enrichment and remedial programmes than their Jewish peers, had fewer textbooks and teaching materials, and studied in inferior buildings. Inadequate funds were invested in developing Arabic curricula.

In 19989 there were 61 integrated kindergartens for Jewish children with special needs, but not a single one for Arabs. A shortage of special education facilities often meant Arab pupils having to travel long distances.

At one Arab school for physically handicapped children, students came from 40 villages, some as far as 70 kilometres away, travelling an hour and a half each way. With the school day lasting from 8am to 3pm, some pupils were away from home for 11 hours.

Amin Faris, of the Mossawa Advocacy Centre for Arab Citizens of Israel, said the education ministry only spends 7 per cent of its pedagogical development budget on the Arab sector.