"HILA has acheived the almost impossible, it has succeeded in involving
a downtrodden population in education and to change the Ministry of Educations policy
in subjects that concern broadening parents' rights to involvement in their children's education."

Mr Sammi Michael, President of "The Association for Civil Rights in Israel"

About HILA

The Israel Committee for Equality in Education (HILA), was founded in 1987 by a group of Israeli activists and intellectuals, as a grassroots training and advocacy organization dedicated to confronting inequality in the educational system in Israel.

In the Israeli education system, a student's parent's financial status, education and origin dictate the student's chances of success. As a result, for every 10 well-established students who pass through the university gates, only 1 under privileged student has the same opportunity. Acquiring a quality education is the way to alter the fate of tens of thousands of children. This process begins in kindergarten. Active, involved parents are the driving force for the improvement of the quality of education. HILA was established in order to train and support parents with the aim of integrating them in the pedagogic work as an influencing factor for raising academic achievements. 

For 22 years, HILA has been providing parents in the socio-economic periphery accessibility to their rights and providing them with training to act as agents of change. The organization works amongst Jews and Arabs, new immigrants and veteran Israelis through workshops, seminars, publications, individual consultations and coalitions. Likewise parents take an active part in the organization's diverse advocacy activity to expand student and parents' rights within the education system.

Parents, graduates of HILA's activity, have raised academic achievements and improved physical conditions in schools across the country. Most of them have integrated in key positions in parent committees and some in their municipal education departments. HILA's activities have also brought significant changes on a systematic level such as the widening of parent rights in the special education placement procedure, tightening of supervision on the provision of psychiatric drugs to students and increasing the transparency in educational institutions.

Throughout its years of activity, HILA has placed thousands of children on education tracks that lead to matriculation and higher education.   

HILA’s Goals 

A.  Empowering parents to become influencing factors within and for the improvement of the education system

B. Advancing and developing social and educational projects for the improvement of educational achievements and the expansion of social involvement

C. Influencing Ministry of Education policy to increase the rights of parents and children; to raise academic achievements and to advance the quality of the educational system

HILA's Activities

HILA's Team

Highlights in HILA's History

(links under construction /June 27th 2009)