Haredi and Arab students are expected to account for 44 percent of all primary and secondary school students by 2017, according to a report released by the Bureau of Central Statistics on Monday.
According to the report, within five years 26% (447,577) of the students will be Arab and 18% (209,910) will be haredi. Students attending non-religious public schools will remain the largest group, at 41% (699,174) -- down from 52% today -- while 14% (237,853) will attend religious public schools.The effect of the haredi sector's high birthrate was clear in both the projections and the current growth rates. Last year alone, the number of haredi students grew by 4.1%, while Arab students increased by 1.5%, non-haredi religious students by 1.3% and secular public school students by a mere .7%.
While Arab growth in primary and secondary school attendance outpaced Jewish growth in the past decade (30% to 16%), a smaller number continued on to university education.
"The number of Arabs in higher education did not rise, and even fell somewhat," the report said.
Between 2013-2017, the total number of students in the education system is expected grow from 1.579 million to 1.695 million, a 7.3% increase.
