Contemporary Issues in Palestinian Arab Education

by Duane Champagne (Editor), Ismael Abu-Saad (Editor)

There are 1.3 million Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel, who encompass 19.4% of the country′s total population. There are another 3, 762, 005 Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip whose educational experiences and opportunities continue to be affected by Israeli occupation. Researchers have documented institutionalized political, economic, and social discrimination, as well as the Palestinian minority′s lower levels of income, educational opportunity, employment, property ownership, and community infrastructure and development. The state-run educational system, which is subdivided into Jewish and Arab systems, has been essential in creating and maintaining these gaps. The April 2006 issue of American Behavioral Scientist explores the role of Palestinian Arab education as a public policy tool and reviews key issues regarding how education shapes culture, individual and communal development, social stratification, economics, and politics in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories. The challenging articles in this provocative issue examine a far-reaching array of contentious topics, Whether one agrees or not with the controversial views expressed in this exceptional issue, these six articles highlight key educational issues that must be faced, debated, and grappled with in order to build the foundations of a lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis This issue should be in the library of everyone interested in Middle East Studies, International Studies, International Politics, International Law, Human Rights, Educational Policy, Sociology of Education, and Social Change.

124 pages, Paperback

First published October 2, 2006