Despite a 12% increase in the dati leumi student population in the capital during the past decade, most of the 283,000 students in the city are attending an Arab sector or chareidi school.

With schools in Israel about to open for the 5776/2017 school year, the Jerusalem Municipality reports an increase of 848 students in kindergartens and schools in the public school sector. It is reported that the secular and dati leumi systems in the capital has grown by 12% over the past decade.

Which sector is growing the fastest in the capital?

However, the chareidi and Arab sectors are growing faster and with the opening of the new school year, there is a total of 283,650 students in all sectors, including 65,510 in the Zionist sector (religious and non-religious schools).

City officials add that in the secular and dati leumi sector, the number of students in the matriculation program has increased from 64% to 71%.

There are an additional 80 classrooms in the Zionist sector, 84 additional classrooms in the eastern capital, and 200 additional classrooms in the chareidi sector.

New classrooms to be constructed

The city is planning to construct an additional 2,000 classrooms at a cost of NIS 2 billion and is currently actively negotiating with the national government.

The most popular name among students in the capital

Among students entering first grade in secular public schools the most popular name for girls is Neviya (נויה) and for the boys, Itai (איתי).

Among students entering first grade in dati leumi public schools the most popular name for girls is Shira (שירה) and for the boys, David (דוד).

Among students entering first grade in Arab public schools the most popular name for girls is Gana (גנא) and for the boys, Mohammed (מוחמד).

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)