Education of the country gives a major function in the life and culture of Israeli. As of 1999, public expenses on education were approximated at 7.7% of GDP. In 1958, the Council for higher Education in the country was established. It is superior body that looks over the operating of Colleges and Universities within the limits of the State of Israel, the only establishment with the authority or sanction of Educational accreditation. The Education Minister of Israel is the head of the council.
The education system has 3 levels: primary education (grades 1-6); middle school (grades 7-9); and high school (grades 10-12). Education is required from kindergarten to 12th grade. In 1953, the state education ruling place an end to detach elementary school systems joined with labor and religious federations, and established a combined state-administered system in which provision was completed for state-religious schools. There are 4 kinds of schools that exist: public religious (Jewish) schools; schools in the Arab sector; schools of the orthodox Agudat Israel; and private schools, mostly controlled by Catholic and Protestant groups. The teaching language in Jewish schools is Hebrew and Arabic in Arab schools.
The optional language in Jewish schools is Arabic, whereas Hebrew is trained from the fourth grade in Arab schools. The institutions of higher education are Hebrew University in Jerusalem (started in 1918), Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa (originated in 1912), Tel Aviv University (created in 1956), Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan (founded in 1955), Weizmann Institute of Science at Rehovot, Haifa University; and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba.
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