Absorption Basket for Immigrant Students in Tel Aviv

What is the absorption basket?

The absorption basket — also called "education fee" — is financial support the Ministry of Education transfers to every immigrant student's school, to help cover start-of-year education costs: textbooks, cultural activities, trips and events that parents of veteran students usually have to pay for themselves.

Who is it for?

Every new immigrant student in the Israeli education system, including Ethiopian-Israelis. The support amount is set individually per student, based on three factors:

• Aliyah (immigration) date
• Education stage — elementary, middle school or high school
• Country of origin

Because of this, there is no single amount that applies to everyone, and it also changes from year to year.

What's included?

• Funding for textbooks at the start of the school year
• Funding for activities that parents at many schools are otherwise expected to pay for themselves — trips, cultural programs, school events
• The money is transferred from the state to the local authority / school ownership entity, which passes it on to the school for the student

Important: the exact shekel amount depends on the student's aliyah date, education stage and country of origin — check the relevant figure with the school or Ministry of Education directly, rather than relying on a fixed number found online (including outdated figures still circulating from old circulars).

How to apply / check eligibility

1. In most cases there's no separate application — the school receives the basket and is required to inform parents of the amount received and what it was spent on; parents sign to acknowledge receipt.
2. If the school charged you in advance (for trips, books, etc.) and a balance remains after the basket is received, the school must refund the balance to parents.
3. To check eligibility and the exact amount for your child — contact the school office, the local Ministry of Education district, or the official sources:

• Ministry of Education: Absorption basket for immigrant students
• Kol-Zchut: Education fee (absorption basket) for Ethiopian-Israeli students_%D7%9C%D7%AA%D7%9C%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9D_%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A6%D7%90%D7%99_%D7%90%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%94)
• Freedom of Information portal: Absorption basket for Ethiopian-Israeli immigrants