Dangerous discrimination

Or Kashti's series of reports in Haaretz on the rejection of scores of students of Ethiopian origin by private religious schools in Petah Tikva reveals an appalling phenomenon that seemingly affects only the Ethiopian community, but in fact bodes ill for all Israeli students.

During the past three years, more than 90 percent of the students from Ethiopian immigrant families have been absorbed in state-religious schools. Their loyalty to the religious and ultra-Orthodox systems stems, in part, from fears within the community lest doubt be cast on their Jewishness.

This is a regrettable missed opportunity, but in the meantime they are prisoners of the religious system - with some institutions treating them cruelly.

The private schools, especially those identified with the national-religious stream, have thus far accepted only a small number of Ethiopian students and are placing obstacles which obstruct the absorption of new students. Though these are schools with the "recognized but not official" status, they are "private" schools only ostensibly, as most of their budget comes from the public coffers. Their claim that it is their "right" to accept only the students they are interested in is completely ridiculous and sharply contradicts the principle of equality in education.

The deplorable discrimination against Ethiopian students has become a kind of ritual before the start of every school year. The Bass committee already rejected last year the excuse offered by schools in Petah Tikva - which argued that the immigrant students are not suited to the high level of their current students - and determined this was a matter of discrimination in every respect.

Danny Kassahun, chief executive officer of Representatives of Ethiopian Jewish Community Organizations, was correct in saying that this is not a localized community problem. Elitist-separatist discrimination by semi-private institutions is liable to occur in other circumstances, as in the ultra-Orthodox education system that discriminates against girls from Mizrahi families that have origins in Muslim countries.

In this sense, the affair poses a challenge to Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar. Though Sa'ar said this week that his ministry would take a firm stance against schools that discriminate, he must show more determination and not make do with simply imposing fines.

He must make it clear that he will take harsh measures against all discriminatory schools that fall in the gray area between public and private - religious, ultra-Orthodox and secular alike. Should this be warranted, he must revoke the license of any school that discriminates and close it down. Any other response will be interpreted as acceptance of discrimination.