The Board of University Heads supports the Minister of Education's initiative to raise the bonus for five math units by 30 points* The alarming decline in the study of five math units was discussed in a panel held at the Faculty of Computer Science at the Technion. The Ministry of Education plans to increase the number of students taking 5 math units from 5% to 9% within five years
"The decrease in mathematics studies to 5 units is a trend that must be reversed." This is what Mohana Fares, who is responsible for the 'Mathematics First' program at the Ministry of Education, said in a panel held at the Technion's Faculty of Computer Science. "30% of the students who start studying for 5 units drop out along the way, and end up being tested for fewer units. Many of them are boys and girls who excelled in the PISA tests, and yet gave up on themselves. Therefore, in the 'Mathematics First' program, we set a gradual increase in the number of examinees in five mathematics units. In 15, the goal is to increase by XNUMX% within a year, and to double within five years."
The panel was held at the Faculty of Computer Science, as part of the annual meeting of the Industry Advisory Committee for the Faculty, under the title "5 units in mathematics and science - what is the problem?".
In the meeting, which aims to create dialogue and promote issues common to the high-tech industry and the faculty, members of the faculty and senior officials in the high-tech industry in Israel participated, including: Aharon Aharon, director of Apple's development centers in Israel, Dr. Shlomo Markel, vice president of Broadcom Global, Yoel Mark, deputy President of Yahoo Laboratories and Dr. Yael Vila, director of EMC Israel's Center of Excellence.
The panel, which took place under the direction of the dean of the faculty Prof. Irad Yavne, also participated in the commander of Lotem, the technological unit for operational IT, Brigadier General Danny Baran, the head of the center for registration and admission at the Efrat Technion Nativ Ronan, the coordinator of sciences at the Leo Buck School Kobi Schwarzbord, and Prof. Alon Wolff, Manager on behalf of the Technion and member of the First Israel Executive Committee. Pares explained the reasons that led to the current situation. "First of all, we must say that the Ministry of Education has a part in this. We didn't have our hands on the pulse, we didn't care about a significant amount of teachers who are really able to teach 5 units, and we didn't start measuring the schools according to this index. High schools are currently measured by the percentage of eligibility for matriculation, as if that is the most important thing."
Fars added that the drop in the number of students studying for 5 matriculation units also has a cultural reason: "Today's Israeli child is very spoiled, and the parents cultivate this trait - they make it clear to him that the most important thing is that he does not try hard and does not suffer."
Kobi Schwarzbord, director of science and technology at Leo Buck School, said that a similar tendency also exists in the field of physics. "I have been teaching physics for 17 years, and I see this decline. Thanks to the effort made at Leo Buck, 30% of our students take physics, of which 40% are girls, but the national average is 8%. 'Effort' has become a dirty word, and you hear more and more parents telling their child to 'go away, don't invest now and make up later,' or show off that their son got a 90 without preparing for the test. It is clear to me that this must be changed, to make it clear that, as in music and sports, here too it is impossible to truly excel without effort. We must tell the students that sure, it will be difficult, but also experiential, exciting and intriguing."
The exclusion of women begins in middle school
The head of the Center for Registration and Admissions at the Technion, Efrat Netiv Ronan, said in the panel that "the exclusion of women nowadays starts already at the end of elementary school. Parents and teachers convey a hidden message to girls: don't go to science and math. The socialization process that the girls go through builds in them the tendency to turn to the softer areas: literature, the Bible, history.
"Nowadays there is no doubt that matriculation of 5 mathematics units is a very significant way to reduce inequality and reduce the exclusion of women in society. But in order to get out of the current situation, the Ministry of Education must regain the authority, the control. It is not possible for the education system to involve 7,000 non-profit organizations and not a few private companies, which turn school principals into project managers who have no time to deal with the pedagogical aspect."
Technion graduate Yoel Mark, who currently serves as vice president at Yahoo, said that she thinks the problem starts at home. "The parents don't want to put pressure on the girls, so they give up on them - not to do five units, not to try hard. It is clear to me that we must change the image of the real professions, and show the girls that subjects like mathematics, physics and computer science do not contradict any feminine quality."
The meeting was also attended by Avi Natan, who served as CEO of Microsoft Israel between 2001-2008 and currently teaches middle school math. Natan pointed out that the teachers are under the eye of the education system and it is required to invest in effective and relevant in-service training. Natan also pointed out that the changes in the education system are happening too slowly and in an individual and not systemic manner as should be expected.
The participants, who spoke from their hearts and brought their personal experience to the table, agreed on the seriousness of the situation on this issue, and added that studying mathematics at a high level gives the student not only a better starting point for higher studies and a career, but also a significant intellectual experience. Prof. Alon Wolf, serving as a member of the executive committee at FIRST Israel, said that the crucial point is creating motivation from a very young age. "We must turn the pyramid upside down and give children a broad scientific base already in elementary school. To show them that science and engineering are beautiful and fascinating worlds."
The Committee of University Heads supports the initiative of the Minister of Education to increase the bonus for five math units by 30 points
The committee of heads of universities announced yesterday, Wednesday, its willingness to support the initiative of the Minister of Education, Naftali Bennett to increase the bonus available for admission to universities for studying five units of mathematics. As part of this, students who will be tested in 5 study units will receive an increased bonus of at least 30 points. The bonus for 4 units will not change and will remain 12.5 points.
The amount of the final bonus will be determined by each of the universities with the intention of allowing the bonuses to be given in the new format as early as possible. The Committee of University Heads asked the Minister of Education to act on the establishment of a joint committee for the Committee of University Heads and the Ministry of Education that would accompany the move and also examine the bonuses provided in additional fields of study.
The Ministry of Education stated that the Minister of Education Naftali Bennett has been working since taking office to strengthen mathematics studies. The new initiative to increase the bonuses for advanced studies in mathematics is a result of the alarming data from recent years:
- Between the years 2006-2013, there was a decrease of approximately 30% in the number of students taking the matriculation exams at the level of 5 units in mathematics, from over 13,000 who completed 5 units of mathematics to under 8,500.
- The Taub Center published a study that found a positive correlation between graduates of 5 math units and achievements in the employment market and the level of income. The decrease in the number of students affects the human capital that will be integrated into knowledge-intensive industries. There is a lack of engineering professionals with 5 university degrees, and as a result there is also a negative impact on the economy of the State of Israel.
- The State of Israel has significant achievements in the field of research, development and start-up companies thanks to the graduates of the advanced mathematics majors, thanks to the outstanding and gifted. Over 90% of bachelor's degree graduates in engineering faculties in universities in the State of Israel are graduates of 5 math units.
Bennett, who also serves as the chairman of the MLA, added: "When I took office, I made increasing the number of applicants to 5 students in mathematics a priority. The State of Israel needs the graduates of 5 units for the invention of the Iron Dome, for high-tech. Unfortunately, the situation today is that students are afraid of mathematics, and prefer to study in the scope of 3 or 4 units because it "pays" more. This must change. This is the first step we took together with the committee of heads of universities and in full cooperation, to change the incentives. I am happy that the universities shared my position that increased mathematics studies are a national goal. These days we are building a national program on mathematics. It is important to us that students understand that mathematics is the basis for progress, technology, thinking and personal and national success."
Prof. Peretz Lavi, Chairman of the Committee of University Heads and President of the Technion: "We are following with concern the trend of the decrease in the number of students studying five math units. As a result, fewer and fewer students arrive at universities with a sufficient level of studies in mathematics, which requires us to implement programs designed to give them the knowledge base that only after its completion can be accepted and succeed in studies in exact sciences and engineering. In the pursuit of excellence and leadership at the international level, we must start from a starting point that will allow universities and industry to be at the forefront of research and knowledge. This is a trend that needs to be changed in the schools and I welcome the initiative of the Minister of Education who knew how to put the emphasis on the issue and promote it within the system."
