Mar Elias Educational Institutions are constituted by a kindergarten, elementary, junior high, and high school as well as a college and a recently established university. The institution is under the direction of the archbishop

Archbishop

An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...

 Elias Chacour

Elias Chacour

Elias Chacour is the Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Noted for his efforts to promote reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis, he is the author of two books about the experience of Palestinian people living in present-day Israel...

. The institutions are located in Ibillin, an Arab village in northern Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

. Arab students from all over the Galilee

Galilee

Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...

 gather at the institutions regardless of their origins, ethical and political views.

History

The institutions started as a high school and a kindergarten in the beginning of the 1980s. The college was later added, and afterwards the elementary and junior high schools, and most recently the university.

Mar Elias High School

The high school is considered the centerpiece among the Mar Elias Institutions. There are more than 1200 students from all over the Galilee enrolled in its classes, and it is known to be one of the best 4 schools in Israel.

The students of Mar Elias High are encouraged to participate in programs which, among others, try to establish long term relationships with people from other backgrounds, such as Jews

Jews

The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...

, Italians and Americans

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

The students are asked to chose a major during the beginning of the 10th grade. The majors that are currently taught at Mar Elias High include:

• Physics
• Biotechnology
• Electronics
• Computer Science
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Sports
• Ecology
• Psychology

Mariam Bawardi Kindergarten

The Mariam Bawardi

Mariam Baouardy

Blessed Mariam Baouardy was a Melkite Greek Catholic Carmelite nun. She was born on January 5, 1846 in I'billin. In April 1878 she played an important role in the identification of the Biblical Emmaus thanks to a private revelation. She died on August 26, 1878 in Bethlehem...

 Kindergarten was founded in 1968, and it was the first Kindergarten in Ibillin. It started in priest Elias Chacour

Elias Chacour

Elias Chacour is the Archbishop of Akko, Haifa, Nazareth and All Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church. Noted for his efforts to promote reconciliation between Arabs and Israelis, he is the author of two books about the experience of Palestinian people living in present-day Israel...

's humble office and bedroom, while he slept in his white Volkswagen.

The Kindergarten is now in a 3 story building which was established in 1978. It holds more than 200 children between the ages of three and five years old.

Miriam Bawardi Elementary School

The children that complete kindergarten can directly enroll to the Miriam Bawardi Elementary School which contains over 1000 students at the moment. The school received its license in 2001/2002.

The school shares a building with the Junior High School. The building was established in 2004 beside the High school.

Miriam Bawardi Junior High

Contains around 300 students, some of which are from outside of Ibillin.

Mar Elias College

Mar Elias College of Technology fulfills a unique role for Arab students in bridging the gap between High School and employment in trades, services and professions. It endeavours to provide the necessary support, encouragement and experience in order to enhance the students' chances of success in university or as members of the working community. Mar Elias College is the largest college in the Arab community in Israel with 384 students and 59 faculty members and has earned a well-documented reputation for excellence. Students come from 47 towns and villages throughout the country and most fulfill the requirements in their specific field of study for an official 2 year certificate from the Ministries of Education and Labour and Mar Elias College. The College adheres closely to the official curriculum laid down by the Israeli Ministry of Education and has a major focus in the area of high technology by offering courses in Computing Science, Communication Technology, Food Technology and Business Administration. Thus Mar Elias College students are prepared to take their place in the Israeli economic and labor market.

Mar Elias University

The Mar Elias University is the first Arab university in Israel, educating Muslim

Muslim

A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...

, Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

, and Druze

Druze

The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...

 students, although it also has Jewish students. It was established in 2002 as a branch of the University of Indianapolis

University of Indianapolis

The University of Indianapolis is a university located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The shortened name it uses is UIndy...

Although it is yet in its infancy, Mar Elias University contains 200 undergraduate students and 60 faculty members.