Masar was born in 1996 in Nazareth as the first alternative experimental Palestinian school as a tool for social change. It is a comprehensive school (KG- 12) serving directly 300 students, 40 staff members and 600 practitioners and academics. It functions as an educational innovation incubator to cultivate an alternative and unique educational methods to improve the formal educational system. The educational method is holistic uses arts, drama, dance and music to develop students creativity
All groups and individuals are disadvantaged by a single educational paradigm that rejects difference and encourages conformity to the norms of dominant group. The traditional education system induces values of conformity and perpetuates explicit and implicit patterns of social exclusion. Lack of arts in schools suppressed creativity and critical thinking and prevent students to become social change agents. In our case there is also an absence of our culture in the curriculum.
Masar Experimental Classes were designed to generate "knowing" from practice and with participation with stakeholders by using action research tools. While the school is designed to meet the qualitative needs of its local community, it will enable Masar team to gain experience and "knowing" about how our educational vision could impact other national, regional and international communities. so, we help our students to enjoy learning in creative environment, and exchange our knowledge with others
We see the development of new paradigm in education that transforms difference from a source of conflict to an opportunity to learn as crucial for building an egalitarian and pluralistic society that appreciate difference. It also suggest productive methods for inclusion, where people participate in designing the future. it also provide an environment where students, parents and staff can use arts to free themselves from social barriers to become social productive agents.
