Ahead of the new academic year, the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology released a "Call for Proposals" for excellence scholarships in STEM (Engineering and Exact Sciences) for master's and doctoral degrees. This year, however, the announcement included specific outreach to ultra-Orthodox, Ethiopian, and Druze students but notably excluded Arab students, a departure from previous years.
On August 20, 2024, in partnership with Sikkuy-Aufoq, we sent legal correspondence to the Director General of the Ministry, demanding that this exclusion be addressed and equal opportunities be ensured for all. Attorneys Suad Hasson of Sikkuy-Aufoq and Gadeer Nicola of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) highlighted significant disparities between Arab and Jewish students in STEM fields. For instance, in 2022, only 15.9% of bachelor's degree graduates from Arab society earned degrees in STEM, compared to 27.1% from Jewish society. The gap persisted at the master's level, with 7% of Arab graduates in STEM compared to 12.6% of Jewish graduates. Arabs made up just 8.3% of all master's degree recipients in STEM fields.
Attorneys Hasson and Nicola stressed the importance of integrating Arab students into STEM education to promote diversity in the high-tech and industrial sectors. They pointed out that the exclusion of Arab students from this year's scholarship opportunities marks a negative shift from past practices.
The legal correspondence states, "Excluding Arab students from these scholarships constitutes unacceptable discrimination, undermining equality and reversing positive social and economic developments of the past decade. This discrimination is especially egregious given the current state of emergency and its impact on all citizens, including Arab society, which has faced significant challenges in employment, education, and more. Immediate action is needed to rectify this injustice and to foster greater inclusivity and representation."
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