The attitudes of the Arab students in the Negev regarding their scholastic achievements
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Abstract
This empirical research attempts to closely examine the attitudes of the Arab students in the Negev regarding their low scholastic achievements, and to try and determine the factors affecting these results. The researcher hopes to focus attention on this problem and to help introduce a real revolution in the Bedouin Arab schools in the Negev. In various fields of their lives, Bedouins have witnessed drastic changes since the settlement policy adopted by the successive Israeli governments. These changes have affected the educational system and achievement levels. Three main factors seem to influence the Arab Bedouin schools:
- The Israeli-Arab conflict
- The conflict between modernism and traditionalism
- Duality in the identity of the Palestinian Arab in Israel
The Bedouin education system has made some quantitative progress, but it is still suffering from many other different problems, such as the lack of buildings and equipment on the one hand, and low achievement on the other. This research included 585 students: 70% ninth graders, 30% eleventh graders; 64% are males and 36% females. The findings of the research indicate that students’ attitudes have been influenced by the customs and traditions of the Arab- Bedouin community on the one hand, and from the state policy regarding the equality between the Arabs and the Jews in Israel on the other hand. Although they serve in the Israeli army they still advocate the establishment of a Palestinian state. p.p.