Israel to reduce Arabic language lessons in high schools

Israel’s minister of education Shai Piron has decided to reduce the hours of mandatory Arabic lessons in secondary schools.

Israel’s Army Radio said that Piron has approved what he described as new reforms, including limiting teaching mandatory Arabic language lessons to the time period of four years.

The radio station said the new plan allows students in the eleventh and twelve grades to spend extra hours learning subjects within the fields of humanities, arts and vocational education.

Alon Frigman, a member of the follow up committee on Arab education in the ministry, said he opposes the decision which limits the students’ knowledge of Arabic.