Report: Number of immigrant students declining
Immigrant Absorption Ministry data reveals 15% drop in number of olim choosing to pursue academic education in Israel
The last three years have seen a 15% drop in the number of new immigrants enrolling in Israeli universities, a report by the Immigrant Absorption Ministry revealed Friday.
The data, which pertained to the 2006-2007 academic school year, indicated that the number of immigrants choosing Israeli higher education decreased by 1,411.
The report was complied by the immigrant students' unit within the Immigrant Absorption Ministry's Students' Department, which was formed some 40 years ago, in order to encourage and assist foreign Jewish student.
Ofer Ofan, head of the ministry's student department, noted that the trend seemed to be continuing in the 2007-2008 academic year as well.
"Along with the decrease noted in the number of students coming to Israel from eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, we are seeing an increase in the number of students from the US and Canada," he said.
"Absorbing young immigrant students in one of the ministry's main goals," said Immigrant Absorption Minister Eli Aflalo. "The numbers reflect the trend of growing immigration to Israel from the West over the last few years compared to a decline in the number of immigrants from the former Soviet Union."
