The Ministerial Committee for Legislation will discuss Sunday a bill by MK Alex Miller (Israel Our Home) to recognize students at art schools as academic students like all others.
The state does not recognize students at art schools as full-fledged students and does not accord them the rights and benefits given to other students at institutes for higher education.
The bill would include students of cinema, theater and plastic arts and would enable them to receive rights and benefits including rescheduling of tests because of reserve duty, freedom to establish recognized student unions, appointment of an ombudsman and more. In addition, people officially recognized as students in Israel are eligible for a certificate which gives them financial benefits upon opening a bank account, using public transportation and more.
The bill would not, however, recognize the art institutions themselves as institutes of higher learning.
“The Ministry of Culture recognizes certain institutes as eligible for government support, under strict and clear criteria, but no status is accorded to those learning there,” MK Miller stated.