Israel
Na’ale is truly a home away from home
ANT KATZ
These issues stem from the “education gap” that begins in primary school. The public school system’s generally sub-par education has left South Africa with a 52 per cent matriculation rate, which includes private schools.
This year has accentuated the deep economic gap and available opportunities between the poor and the middle class in South Africa and the Jewish community is not immune to the chaos intrinsic in the education system.
Although extremely costly, Jewish families prefer to send their children to private schools. Average cost per year for each child is R120 000, which means that families are spending the bulk of their salary on education and medical aid. If parents want to send their children to a university abroad, they might need to come up with a new plan for high school.
There is a growing trend for teens to study abroad for the last few years of high school and new programmes open up every year that offer low-cost or even free options for parents and their teens. Na’ale Elite Academy in Israel is a popular option for Jewish families. This school option is run in conjunction with the Jewish Agency.
It may sound a bit daunting to send teens to study abroad, but this challenge is a powerful opportunity for personal development and prompts incredible self-growth and transformation.
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Morgan Cohen, a 2016 Na’ale graduate from South Africa understands the opportunity she has.
“There is a lot of freedom here but you have to follow the rules as well,” says Cohen. “The staff at Na’ale really care about us so any rules are for our own good.”
Well-respected US educator, Dr Jessie Voights, weighed in on the benefits of high school learners studying abroad. He found that study abroad “results in a huge return on investment, from intellectual and emotional development to ultimate career prospects”.
Na’ale’s programme also includes learning Hebrew, music, sport and special trips to learn more about the history of Israel and explore the country.
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For more information on Na’ale contact Livnat Katz at the Israel Centre on 011 645-2560/74 or mail her at naale.southafrica@gmail.com
- Co-author Raisel Druxman is the public relations manager for IMP International who are marketing agents for Na’ale
