Classes aimed at preparing students for marriage are to be offered at religious senior schools in Israel as part of a new government initiative, with the potential for counsellors to act as matchmakers between pupils.

The country's Education Ministry suggested introducing the project in both boys' and girls' schools, with trained teachers giving students up to 60 hours of "preparation for marriage" and advice about ways to find a future spouse.

The plans appeared to suggest there is a growing community of "bachelors and bachelorettes" among young people in Israel, an issue the Ministry and religious schools would like to resolve.

School teachers were quick to criticise the proposals, saying institutions should not be involved in matchmaking and encouraging the need for formal education about "healthy sexuality", according to Haaretz.

The ministry has so far declined to say how much the programme would cost to implement, but head of religious education Dr Avraham Lifshitz said a new approach to the teaching of marital matters was required in schools.

"Because single people are an inseparable and beloved part of us, there is a great need to embark on a new and unique enterprise," he wrote in a letter setting out the plans, confirming the project would be launched during the current school year.

"High schools should bring in counsellors to help accompany students in the signficant process of choosing a spouse."

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Sources from various high schools were quoted as saying such a programme was unnecessary and could even hinder constructive learning.

"The schools shouldn't get involved in matchmaking," one teacher said. "It's not our job to collect names and create a database of acquaintances.

"If there's a large community of bachelors and bachelorettes, as the letter says, it would be better to listen to them and understand what's bothering them than to look for matches."