In accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of Pupils' Rights Law, 5761-2000, Pupils' Rights Regulations (Conditions for Matriculation Examinations) 5762-2002 (the Pupils' Rights Regulations) were laid down. These regulations determine the right of pupils to take matriculation exams in the educational institution that they attend, in the subject and at the examination level that they have chosen, subject to several conditions. The aim of the law and regulations is to enable pupils to choose the areas of study in which they will be examined within the matriculation framework.
An Israeli-Arab 10th grade pupil asked permission to major in architecture at the high school that he attended. He claimed that his request was rejected without his educational level being checked and in the absence of any reasonable explanation.
Before filing a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman, the pupil's father contacted different bodies, including his son's school, the local authority within whose jurisdiction he resided and the Ministry of Education, but according to him the matter had not been resolved over a long period of time. The father also claimed that his son had been placed in a major that did not match his educational level, his choice and his preferences.
The Office of the Ombudsman contacted the Ministry of Education, requesting them to check if in this case the conditions for denying the right of a pupil to choose the area of study in which he wished to matriculate had been met, in accordance with the Pupils' Rights Regulations.
Following the Office's inquiry, the Ministry of Education checked the matter, and in light of its findings spoke with the school's management and clarified the relevant provisions of the regulations.
The headmaster of the school subsequently spoke to the pupil, in the presence of the school's advisor. The pupil's request was re-examined, this time in accordance with the Pupils' Rights Regulations, and he was accepted to the architecture major of his choice.