Unequal distribution of funds?
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Muslim students: Education Ministry discriminates against us
Arab university students claim ministry awards scholarships to Druze, Circassians but not to Muslims
The Education Ministry decided to encourage higher education in the periphery by handing out scholarships to hundreds of non-Jewish students – especially those coming from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
However, Arab students say they were stunned to discover that the scholarships were only awarded to Druze and Circassians, but not to Muslims.
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"It is insulting; there's no reason why our Druze and Circassian neighbors receive scholarship while we do not," said Ahmad, a Muslim master's degree student from the northern village of Abu Sanan.
According to Ahmad, at the beginning of the academic school year he and his Druze friends filed an application for a scholarship; however, while his friends were given the funds – he was declined.
"At first I thought it was a mistake and contacted an Education Ministry representative, who told me that the scholarship was only meant for Druze and Circassians," he said.
"In our village, we don’t make distinction between religions and Druze and Muslims live together; I teach at a Druze school and my best friends are Druze. It's unthinkable that a governmental office responsible for education will discriminate and make me feel different than the others," he said angrily.
The Education Ministry said in response that it awards scholarships to all students of all sectors in the country, based on socioeconomic need.
In addition, as part of a special budget allocated for the education in the Druze and Circassian sectors, it was decided to grant additional scholarships to students, with the aim of encouraging higher education.
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