Between the years 2006 - 2014 there was a decrease of about 30% in the proportion of students accessing 5 study units in mathematics. In addition, there was a decline in the quality of teaching, and many students "chose" out of considerations of convenience and academic viability to give up the challenge of extended studies and take 4 credits in mathematics.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett launched the national program to strengthen mathematics studies yesterday, under the slogan "Give Five", along with former President Shimon Peres, who responded to the minister's request and agreed to mobilize to promote the national program. The major high-tech companies operating in Israel are partners in the program, as well as the leading foundations whose goal is the advancement of mathematics studies. As part of the program, which has a goal of equal opportunities - for the first time, the Ministry of Education will allow all high schools in Israel to teach 5 credits of mathematics, when this year about 100 new study majors will be opened. The ministry has set as a goal that within 4 years the number of students will be doubled from 5 units to 18,000 students. Another goal is to double the number of teachers teaching 5 units from 1000 to 2000 teachers.
In addition, existing projects will be included in the program and a national public forum for the study of mathematics will be established in cooperation with the 5 x 2 initiative - the forum will bring together the senior officials of the education system alongside the senior leaders of industry and high-tech and discuss ways to promote mathematics in Israel.
As you may recall, immediately upon taking office, Minister Bennett defined the strengthening of mathematics studies as a national strategic goal with the understanding that harming mathematics studies is a harm to the strength and security of the State of Israel. The 75 million shekels budgeted program is intended to place Israel at the forefront of mathematics in the world. The Ministry of Education states that the future of the State of Israel depends on the development of quality human capital. Increased mathematics studies constitute the infrastructure for strengthening the Israeli economy and becoming a world leader in academic, industrial (high-tech) and military (Iron Dome) developments.
Shimon Peres returns to school, as part of the "Give Five" campaign. Video production - PM
The crisis in mathematics studies
Between the years 2006 - 2014 there was a decrease of about 30% in the proportion of students accessing 5 study units in mathematics. In addition, there was a decline in the quality of teaching, and many students "chose" out of considerations of convenience and academic viability to give up the challenge of extended studies and take 4 credits in mathematics. Unfortunately, these lost the opportunity to receive one of the important keys to their continued integration in the fields of science and technology. Along with this, a student's choice of five study units is also accompanied by very important educational values, including: taking responsibility, perseverance, dealing with difficulties, determination and striving for excellence.
In the meantime, Israel has also deteriorated in the international rankings: according to the Nuffield Foundation index (which ranks the number of 9.1th grade students for an advanced math exam) Israel is ranked in the third ranking group (group C) with only 31%. At the top of the ranking (group A) with over XNUMX% are countries such as Japan, Korea, Singapore and New Zealand.
The former president, Shimon Peres, said: "The State of Israel has been blessed with talents capable of reaching unexpected heights, but they must be nurtured. We must not put up with a situation where in the State of Israel, children who can study five matriculation units in the schools will not do so due to a lack of means. A financial deficit can be corrected later - an educational deficit cannot be corrected.
Israel is the symbol of the start-up nation, but never resilience! Start Up Nation is not a one-time move - you cannot buy scientific excellence once and that's enough. In order for us to stand up to the global competition in front of the international markets, the state must invest the most, to allow its students first class science. The subjects of science and technology rely on mathematics, therefore, the advancement of studies and a vigorous pursuit of scientific excellence are an existential necessity and a supreme interest for the future of Israel."
Minister of Education Naftali Bennett: "Today, the expression "equal opportunities" is turning from a slogan into a reality: the days are over when a child wanted to take a five-unit matriculation, but due to his place of residence he could not. A restrained student has no less potential than a Masbion student, we just need to not stop him. So from today we will no longer stop him and will allow him to do five units of mathematics."
Minister Bennett added: "I say clearly: the threat of mathematics studies is a strategic threat, and a strategic threat needs a national plan. I know there are many who do not agree with me on the need to massively strengthen mathematics, but the role of the leadership is to set national goals and strive for them with all our might - and we will double the number of students in the units within four years. In my recent past, when I was in the army and in high-tech, there was an either-or concept: either we do something for ourselves at the expense of the state, or we do something for the state at our own expense - but here it is both: in the national mathematics program the child will both strengthen his future and help its future of the State of Israel. I am addressing the public in Israel today. After a hundred days I look you in the eyes and say: I promised that we would be an education government - and I kept it. We are opening the school year with the reform of the small class in first grades, the reform of the second assistant in kindergartens, the aid program for those with special needs and now with the national mathematics program. This is going to be a good year - a year of education"
Maxine Fassberg, Vice President of Intel Global and CEO of Intel Israel: "For years, the State of Israel has raised the value of learning and excellence to a miracle. Not for nothing was Israel called 'the people of the book'. And this became stronger with the arrival of the various increases over the years. We must continue this. The State of Israel should be responsible for its destiny and future. The basis for the success of countries is investment in the infrastructure of human capital, in education. The building blocks of the modern world are mathematics and exact sciences, and if we don't invest in a new generation of technology leaders, we will simply be left behind. Israel needs more young people who study technological professions at the highest level, so that it can compete with countries that invest considerable resources in the subject. Doubling the amount of math students at the level of 5 units is the first and necessary step in this important process that will ensure that even in the years to come, Israelis will be at the forefront of global technological development."
Eli Horvitz, CEO of the Trump Foundation and a member of the National Education Committee: "The new program expresses a deep and broad consensus, there is no left or right, anyone with eyes in his head understands that in schools there are many students who want and can excel, and this is their fundamental right and our moral duty to provide them with quality instruction , one that will believe in them, support them and help them achieve high achievements and open a door to the future. We joined this important move, the cornerstone of which is the excellent teachers serving in the schools in Israel, to allow teachers professional working conditions and help them lead more students to excellence."
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Funny 🙂
50% of the children are ultra-Orthodox, more or less illiterate, and the demography is on their side.
In every third world country, as we will soon be, there are ten thousand who studied 5 units of mathematics.
Herzl, everything you wrote below sounds like absolute absurdity, I even put some thought into what you wrote and I still see significant flaws in every element of your idea.
After neglecting the education system for decades, Bennet took care of mathematics. He doesn't understand that you can't teach everything at a low level and only one subject at a high level - the students already hate the school. There should be a national program that starts with an 8-hour school day that includes studying and preparing lessons, quality meals - especially in the periphery, teachers who will receive double the salary of what they receive now and be tested on their performance every year, dismissal of teachers whose students do not progress, a camera in every classroom and control over the course of studies, massive use on computers, small classes and personal help while preparing lessons, and much more. Don't forget to protect the schools from rockets so that they can study with peace of mind even during times of security stress, and protection from earthquakes. Only what - they prefer to chop the tycoons and associates, so there is no money.
Details of the program?