Students in the tens of thousands will be affected by change to 1949 law.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFschool kids 298 AJ(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski )
The Knesset on Tuesday night approved legislation requiring all pupils to complete 12 years of school.
The old law, which dated back to 1949, mandated school attendance until 10th grade. The change will affect tens of thousands of students who drop out every year after 10th grade.
One implication of the new legislation is that schools won't be able to expel students until they complete 12th grade unless they find an acceptable, alternative educational framework.
The legislation was drafted by Education Committee Chairman Michael Melchior (Labor), MK Menahem Ben-Sassion (Kadima), and MK Zevulen Orlev (NU-NRP).
