42% of Ultra-Orthodox Students Would Quit Academia Without Gender Separation, Data Shows

New data from Israel's Council for Higher Education reveals that 42% of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) students would abandon academic studies if gender-segregated programs were eliminated. The findings come amid heated parliamentary debates over a bill allowing gender separation in advanced degree programs. The data highlights that for many Haredi students, gender separation is not merely ideological but a necessary condition for academic participation.

The survey shows 69% of Haredi respondents prefer dedicated study tracks with gender separation, and 87% emphasize the importance of separate classrooms. The issue is particularly pronounced in the arts, where 58% of interested students cite gender separation as a prerequisite for enrollment, challenging assumptions that separation is only needed in traditional fields.

MK Tzvi Sukkot, chair of the Education, Culture, and Sports Committee, strongly responded to the data, stating that opponents of the separation law effectively seek to close academic doors to thousands of Haredim. He stressed that the bill, initiated by MK Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit, does not impose separation but offers choice and adaptation to increase Haredi integration into the workforce.

The legislation would allow academic institutions to establish separate tracks for men and women in graduate programs, subject to council approval. This could enable Haredi seminaries for women to offer separate master's degree tracks, an option previously unavailable. Additionally, 48% of respondents said gender separation is a key factor in deciding to pursue advanced degrees, indicating that without it, even current students might forgo further studies.

Some universities, like Bar-Ilan, have already implemented supportive programs tailored to Haredi students, helping reduce social isolation and build academic support networks. The broader question remains whether other institutions will adopt flexible models to accommodate diverse populations or maintain ideological stances that risk excluding thousands from higher education. The newly revealed data appears to decisively influence this ongoing debate.