By the numbers

By THE DATA PAINTS A BLEAK PICTURE
According to research conducted by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, large social and educational gaps persist, despite gains in the '90s in educational achievement, enrollment in higher education, achievement in the army and greater involvement of the Ethiopian community in national and local affairs. • Although there is a growing concentration of Ethiopians in Jerusalem's weaker schools, the research shows that Ethiopian youth have high aspirations, are highly motivated, place a greater value on contribution to society than their non-immigrant peers and have a higher than average rate of volunteering for combat units.
  • Families are big. Nearly half have more than seven members.
  • One-fourth are single parent families.
  • One-third of adults can't hold a simple Hebrew conversation.
  • Unemployment stands at more than 50%.
  • Up to 15% attend university.
  • Twenty-one percent of Ethiopian children in Ashdod have no school books.
  • Seventy-five percent of families have no reference books at home
  • The school dropout rate for 14-17 year-olds is 6%, compared to 4% of general Jewish population. This does not include a "hidden" dropout rate (irregular attendance) of 14%.
  • Twenty-five of 17-year-olds were not in school in 2002 compared to 15% of the general Jewish population.
  • Ethiopian children score significantly below the national average (up to 60% in 2000) on standardized achievement tests in science, English, math and Hebrew.
  • Twenty percent do well enough on the matriculation exams to qualify for university, compared to 53% of the general population Another 17% complete matriculation exams without meeting university requirements, compared to 8% of the general population. - R.M.