“Every year, 70,000 Arab students enroll in higher education institutions — about 50,000–58,000 in Israel and another 10,000–20,000 abroad.”
We spoke with Professor Muhammad Amara, President of Al-Qasemi College — one of the leading academic institutions in the Arab Triangle, located on the Green Line in Baqa al-Gharbiyya — about the challenges facing education in Arab society. Here’s what he told us:
“Arab society in Israel is in a unique situation: on one hand — rapid growth in student numbers, professional development, and global mobility; on the other — systemic underfunding, discrimination, and bureaucratic barriers.”
The current state of Arab society, he explains, consists of four concentric “circles” of reality, each of which affects the development of education:
1. Arab Society Itself:
“On one hand, Arab society is advancing phenomenally in all areas. We have names and leaders in interdisciplinary fields. On the other hand, the media focuses only on violence and crime in Arab society. But Arab society is very diverse, very complex, and far from homogeneous.”
2. Israeli Society as a Whole:
“Israeli society is currently undergoing upheaval — and it affects everyone: Arabs, Jews, Ashkenazim, Haredim… This is a circle we must deal with. As educators, we cannot ignore it.”
3. The Global Context:
“We are citizens of the world. What does that mean? It means I have to equip my graduate with the knowledge and skills to navigate today’s realities and truly become a global citizen.”
4. Artificial Intelligence:
“This is a challenge we all feel. Our lecturers don’t yet know what to do with it. We, like the rest of the world, are figuring it out as we go. We are integrating AI into the education process.”
The Language Barrier as a Hidden Form of Exclusion:
“An Arab child comes to school, learns Hebrew with difficulty, and later enters college or university — only to be told to pass the YAEL Hebrew proficiency exam… and he fails.”
This language barrier structurally excludes Arab youth from higher education. Al-Qasemi College finances Hebrew language courses from its own budget, but this is not enough. Without state support, many young people are left out of the system.
Employment and Brain Drain:
“Ten thousand students study in Jenin, in Nablus, in Jordan… There are many students who speak a little Hebrew, a little English, and Arabic. They work in Ramallah, Nablus, Amman… At least a thousand young people now work in the Gulf states — the UAE, Qatar.”
Thus, a significant portion of young Arabs are leaving the country in search of education and employment. Inside Israel, they often face limited prospects — especially in the education sector.
“The Council for Higher Education interferes in college operations in unacceptable ways. It is suffocating us. Day and night we are required to prepare endless reports. We are not universities, but the expectations — especially around research — are the same, without the corresponding budget.”
Professor Amara raises a crucial systemic issue: the lack of proportionality between expectations and resources. Arab colleges are burdened with excessive bureaucracy and lack the flexibility required for growth.
“Our society is developing. But development should not mask systemic problems. Without sustainable solutions, we are losing a generation.”
Professor Amara sees the mission of his college as broader than just education:
“Our task is not just to transfer knowledge. The academy typically focuses on a narrow field. But that’s not enough. We must prepare graduates who understand that they are part of society — citizens of both their country and the world.”
Al-Qasemi College strives to implement this philosophy despite all limitations. But without changes in state policy, equal funding, and recognition of diversity — the crisis in Arab education will only deepen.
By Elena Shafran, Editor-in-Chief of Sowtna and Consultant in Media Strategy and Conflict-Sensitive Communication
Photo by the author
Published in the Facebook group: Free Israel / Вольный Израиль / Territory of Freedom
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16coZMHKkH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
