Providing Higher Education to Socially Disadvantaged Populations

This paper analyses the philosophy and practical implementation of two special undergraduate programmes offered by the Open University of Israel (OUI) to socially and educationally disadvantaged populations. One programme is offered to the community leaders of the national project for renewal of the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods of Israel. Another programme is designed to upgrade the overall level of education of blue-collar workers in cooperation with the General Labour Federation (Histadrut). Many of the participating students in both programmes have not graduated from high school. Special preparatory courses were developed that focused on basic learning-skills as well as on fundamental academic subjects. After a six-month pre-academic preparatory programme the students undertake degree-level courses. Although special assistance is provided to these students during the learning process, their assignments and final examinations are evaluated according to the same criteria as those used for the regular students. The discussion focuses on the question of whether both values of equality and quality could be achieved in higher education.