Education
Ethiopian Israeli students have lower educational achievements than their veteran Israeli counterparts. Many of the parents of the Ethiopian students are illiterate, even in their native Amharic, and therefore cannot read to preschool children or help school-age children with their studies. The educational gap continues and expands throughout the school years – Ethiopian Israeli students do less well on high school matriculation exams than veteran Israelis.
The main Shiluvim educational goal is to raise Ethiopian Israeli educational achievements to be on par with the national average. Other objectives are to increase parental involvement, improve school climate, and foster academic excellence.
Shiluvim has a range of educational programs for preschool, elementary, and middle/high school students. In addition, Shiluvim provides after-school and summer enrichment activities for children and youth.
- Kindergarten Language Enrichment Programs help 90 children acquire Hebrew language skills and other basic knowledge.
- Preparation for Grade 1 Programs provide about 40 children developmental assistance in cognitive and social areas. As the result of these programs, 10 children this year were accepted into the private Reali and Leo Baeck schools with full 12 year scholarships.
- A mediator provides cultural mediation and translation between parents and kindergarten staff, works with parents to increase their involvement in the education of their children, and follows up on the children's progress.
- Tutorials To close the educational gap, Shiluvim provides small group tutorials for 250 elementary school children at schools and community centers.
- Educational Coordinators and School Mediators follow up on students' progress and make a bridge between parents and school staff.
- Enrichment/"Therapy" Classes such as arts and crafts, dance, and judo, are given at East elementary schools for 65 students.
- Gavrielli Science and Art Magnet School The Gavrielli School, an elementary school with a high concentration of Ethiopian Israeli students, was changed into a Science and Arts Magnet School. A partnership between Shiluvim and the Ministry of Education, the Magnet School offers small class sizes; at-school hands-on science classes given by the Museum of Science staff; musical instrument rental and lessons, orchestra and chorus; dance/movement classes; and a soccer program in conjunction with the HaPoel soccer team.
- HuGordon 30 children in grades 3-6 are participating in this program for gifted children at Gordon College.
- Computer Group 11 middle school students are learning computer programming and other skills. The goal of the program is to encourage students to go on to study computer science and other science disciplines in high school.
- Tutorials: Shiluvim provides small group tutorials for 120 middle and high school students.
- Maleh Program : At Alliance Middle School, Shiluvim provides funds for the Maleh program. This involves a special welcoming room for Ethiopian students where they can feel comfortable and receive academic and personal support from the program guide.
- Diagnostic Testing: Shiluvim funds educational diagnostic testing of students.
- Mediator: A mediator provides language and cultural mediation between parents, children, and schools.
Enrichment Activities for Elementary and Middle/High School Students
- The Beit Gavrielli program in East Haifa is open four days a week from 4-7 PM. About 90 elementary school children come regularly to the program and participate in a variety of extracurricular activities.
- In Kiryat Chaim, 60 children participate in activities at the Beit Ressler Youth Center.
- Shiluvim provides subsidies for children and youth to take enrichment classes at community centers.
- Shiluvim also provides subsidies for summer camps.
