Perspective Chapter: Higher Education in Arab Minority in Israel – Challenges and Struggles

Abstract

Education plays a critical role in building community and contributing to cohesion in society. Arab society views education as one of the main challenges in its shaping, development, promotion and preservation of its character and heritage, and therefore its involvement in increasing educational matters. For many years, the education system and especially higher educational institutions in the Arab society has suffered from neglect and discrimination, manifested in large gaps between it and the education system in the Jewish society, both in resources and achievements. This chapter will focus on Arab society higher education institutions challenges and struggles in light of the complex relationship between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority in Israel. Arab society in Israel operates in the context of a Jewish majority state. This leaves it in the hands of the majority, while the minority group has limited involvement in its contents. This article also attempts to clarify the collective rights of the Arabs while discussing the relationship between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority in Israel. Moreover, the article paints a picture of the current situation of the Arab population, while emphasizing the changes that have taken place since the establishment of the State (1948) until today.