March 16, 1973—Supplement to The Jewish News--Page 35

Israel's Pride - - It's Educational System

In 1948, enrollment in Israel's schools totalled less
than 150,000. Today, as the country celebrates its 25th
year of independence, nary 1,000,000 students attend
educational institutions.
Education in Israel is the indispensable instrument
for welding native-born and newcomers into a united
nation. And education, in this nation of immigrants, be-
gins with a common language, Hebrew.
It has been said that Israel is the only country on

earth whose children must teach their parents the moth-
er tongue of the country.

Although the country is struggling with a heavy load
of immigration, defense and development, education com-
mands the third largest item in the national budget, ex-
ceeded only by defense and housing. A complete educa-
tion system, from kindergarten through university, has
been constructed, and scientific research is of the high-
est standards.

State education in Jewish schools is based by law
"on the values of Jewish culture and the achievements
of science; on love of the Homeland and devotion to
the State of Israel and the Jewish people; on training in
agricultural labor and handicrafts; on fulfillment of pio-
neering principles; on the aspiration to a society built
on liberty, equality, tolerance, mutual aid and love of
fellowman."

Elementary education was made free and obligatory
by law the year after independence. Since 1969 it has
been limited to six years, followed by six post-primary
years. Both regular and religious schools are chosen by
the parents. Some 65 per cent of primary school pupils.
attend general State schools, 28 per cent go to State
religious schools and the remainder to independent
schools.
Secondary schools require tuition, graded according
to parents' income, but about 50 per cent of the pupils,
including children of recent immigrants, are exempt
from payment. Free high school education for everyone
remains an important and necessary goal.

There are some 17,000 Arab pupils in the 334 State
schools, including kindergartens, and nearly 28,000 in
non-state schools supported by religious and other
bodies.

Children are instructed in Hebrew in Jewish schools
and Arabic is an optional course. Arabic is the language
of instruction in Arab schools and Hebrew is taught
from the third grade.
English is the primary and French usually the sec-
ond foreign language. Educational television is now used
in over a thousand educational institutions.
The ministry of education maintains 540 school and
neighborhood clubs used by 150,000 young people. Cen-
tral libraries, concerts of recorded music, performances
by the Israel Philharmonic and other orchestras, films
and art exhibits are also provided for them by the min-
istry.
One of the most important factors in Israel's prog-

ress is the extent to which she can train scholars, pro-
fessional men, scientists and technicians of high calibre.
In fact, it has been said that Israel's only plentiful nat-
ural resource is its wealth of engineers, doctors, tech-
nicians and researchers.

Technion, the Israel Institute of Technology, dates
from 1912, at the beginning of the development of the
modern Jewish community. It reflects the emphasis
which the country places on the development of scien-
tists. Sometimes called Israel's M.I.T., Technion trains
engineers, technologists, scientists and architects, most
of them on a 300-acre site on Mount Carmel.
The foundation stones of Hebrew University were
laid in 1918, only a few months after the liberation of
Palestine from O ttomon rule. Its original campus on Mt.
Scoupus behind the Old City, under Jordanian control
following the 1948 War of Independence, was regained
in 1967. During the interim, however, to accommodate

:

the ever-increasing number of students who were forced
to attend classes in scattered buildings and makeshift
rented premises, the decision was made to build a new
university on a hill at the western edge of Jerusalem.
This handsome complex of buildings, accommodating
more than 16,000 students, is already overcrowded to
such a degree that lecture rooms remain open 13 hours
a day to serve the enrollment.
At Rehovot, the Weizmann Institute conducts re-
search in a wide range of subjects including 'atomic en-
ergy studies. Its nuclear physics department draws vis-
iting scientists from all over the world.
Tel Aviv University, founded in 1956 as a municipal
institution became autonomous in 1962 and has grown
from the 1,500 students it had at that time, to 16,000 by
current count. The present 25 on-campus buildings will
soon be increased by •0 which are either planned or
now under construction.

Other institutions of higher learning include Bar-
Ilan University, named after the late religious Zionist
leader, Rabbi Meir Bar-Ilan, the University of Haifa and
the University of the Negev. Altogether, institutions of
higher learning recognized by the Council for Higher
Education have a combined enrollment of about 50,000.

Adult education institutes are operated by local
authorities and labor councils in cities and towns through-
out Israel. Courses in science and the humanities, as
well as in applied arts and hobbies, are offered in almost
every town and village and are attended by more than
30,000 adults.
Study courses are held for new immigrants in coop-
erative villages jointly with the Jewish Agency and the
Mashaf Movement. Four colleges for klbutz members
provide academic education under university supervision.
Education has always been a top priority of the
Israeli people.

Til e Salute You -Arad
O n the Occasion of

Y our

25th Anniver3ary

BERMAN'S
Chop House

World Famous Steaks &
Chops For Over 50 Years

FOX & HOUNDS

Elegant Dining

•

AL GREEN's

In The Fisher Building

• Celebrity Room • Coach Stop • Cafeteria

UNCLE
JOHN'S
Pancake House

The Family Restaurants