The present study discusses the social and personal challenges facing Arab-Bedouin students in teaching colleges and examines how they maneuver between the academic world, which represents modern urban life, and the social traditions of their society. The study is based on semi-structured interviews with 30 Arab-Bedouin students from education colleges in southern Israel. The Arab-Bedouin female students interviewed in the study reported that their status, as well as their families’ status, improved as a result of their decision to acquire higher education. Education is seen as a source of pride for them and their family members, even within their society. In addition, the study found that parental support contributed greatly to the students’ academic progress. The parents formed a safety net, for example, by helping to pay tuition or buying school supplies and equipment such as laptops.
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