״בסך הכול אתם גם רוצים שהם יסיימו״ — נשירה של סטודנטים חרדים מהאקדמיה

In recent years, as part of a world-wide effort to raise the number of academic graduates from Israel’s socio-economic periphery, considerable efforts have been made to integrate the Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) sector into higher education in Israel. This process has met with significant impediments, including high levels of attrition. The goal of this study was to identify markers of Haredi students who drop out (partially or fully), as compared to those who persist in their studies, and to characterize the process of their attrition.Our study utilized a Mixed-Methods design, in which the quantitative survey findings (n=540) enabled a statistically significant comparison of dropouts and persistors, while the qualitative interview findings (n=61) focused on those who dropped out, allowing for a deeper understanding of their experiences.The findings show that the educational motivations of the students who ultimately dropped out were more pragmatic, whereas persistors were more likely to choose studies that interested them and matched their personal abilities, and were characterised by a higher academic drive. Social-educational capital, including having academically-educated parents, having completed previous core studies at high school, and a higher socio-economic status, placed Haredi students at a lower risk for dropping out. The qualitative analysis indicated a recurring theme of framing the dropout experience as involving a breached contract: while they were investing efforts and heeding the call of the state to engage in higher education, these students felt that the institutions themselves did not truly adapt themselves to their needs and abilities as first-generation students. This led to frustration along the lines of “If you want us so much, why don’t you help us to succeed?” This narrative framing of their situation weakened students’ motivation to excel at their studies.