“A mind is a terrible thing to waste. That axiom, widely used in America decades ago to encourage minority enrollment in higher education, applies today to Israeli Arabs.

They currently account for only 12 percent of students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Israel.

Arabs comprise 20% of Israel’s population and 50% of them are under the age of 20. Israel must find ways to make higher education more accessible, to create opportunities for knowledgeable, skilled graduates to contribute to the country’s continuing economic growth and productivity.

Increasing the number of Arab university students is the core aim of an ambitious initiative to be launched March 6. Coordinated by Israel’s Council for Higher Education (CHE), the six-year plan dovetails with other government-sponsored programs to help the Arab community.”

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