Israeli-Arab college students prefer to not obtain their college degrees in Israel, a study by the Sakhnin College has learned, according to a Makor Rishon report.
54% of Arab college students leave Israel to get their Bachelor degrees overseas or in the Palestinian Authority.
The preferred destinations are Europe, followed by Jordan and the PA, and then other Arab countries.
Dr. Yasser Awad, vice-president of the Sakhnin College says that many of those who go to study overseas don’t come back, leading to a brain drain in the Israeli-Arab sector. Many of those that do return, in particular, after studying in the PA, come back more radicalized.
Awad says, the best and the brightest are the ones that leave and don’t come back. Arab-Israeli society is losing their future leaders to Europe, and Israel is losing the people that could best advance the relationship between Israel-Arabs and the country.
Awwd believes the Israeli university exams (psychometri), college acceptance requirements and language are significant roadblocks for Arab society and culture. He also believes that Israeli (Jewish) society isn’t willing to accept and understand the other or the differences in culture.