Limor Livnat Minister of Education Culture and Sports Born in 1950 in Haifa, the Honorable Limor Livnat is Israel’s Minister of Education, Culture and Sports since 2002. Prior to this, she held the positions of Minister of Education and also Minister of Communications. A member of the Security Cabinet of the Israeli Government, Minister Livnat has chaired and been an active member of various social action committees regarding the status of women, domestic violence, education and culture, and labor and welfare. Livnat served in the Education and Social Welfare Unit of the Israel Defense Forces, and was the first woman elected as Student Union Vice-Chairwoman at Tel Aviv University, where she also studied Hebrew literature.

Israel's Educational Bill of Rights

We believe that everyone has the right to develop his/her potential through education. Society is obliged to provide that education, as declared in the Convention on the Rights of the Child states in order to prepare children for a free society. With knowledge increasing exponentially, children require tools to acquire, evaluate and organize information. While striving to give our students a broad education, including humanistic, democratic norms, Israel's educational system must also reflect a pluralistic, multi-cultural society.

To narrow existing gaps, we are implementing a program for structural, organizational and pedagogical change. Beyond a required core curriculum, each ethnic group studies its own heritage and culture. Kindergarten will begin from age three, with the emphasis on the basics. English will be taught from the first grade; science and technology will be required for all students. Standards will be set and achievements evaluated periodically. Weak students will be coached, and those who excel will be challenged to advance further, Special needs students will be mainstreamed wherever possible.

Budgeting schools per student has already been instituted. The dropout rate has decreased and the matriculation examination pass rate has risen. We are committed to providing a safe school environment, free of drug and alcohol abuse. Textbooks are under review to correct gender stereotyping references. Our students learn about their rights and responsibilities; a booklet on the subject, in Hebrew, Arabic and Braille, is distributed in primary schools.

Special projects are supported in many areas, such as:

- education

• the completion of basic or high school education for immigrants

-the arts

• performing arts programs and scholarships for disadvantaged students
• the presentation, by at-risk youth, of original theatrical, musical or cinematic work in their communities

-environmentalism and sustainable development

• multi-disciplinary programs about ecological dangers
• an international research program about invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea

- health and science

• medical cadets project, the most qualified students working abroad as health ambassadors,

Thus, we hope to teach our children to be active citizens of the world and enable them to meet the challenges of the future.