The views of the author are not necessarily those of janglo.net
Israel
is ranked as one of the last places among the developed world. This is
a very sad reality, and it is not getting any better.
The
children in Israel are not well trained in school, and the main “job”
of the system is to make the children pass the different exams given by
the system to the system!
Children
are not reading books or having to write book reports. They know very
little about “science fair” projects, for example; they know even less
math even less.
The most problematic issue though is the: violence and complete lack of obedience among the students.
It takes a teacher an average of 10-15 minutes to get silence in the class before starting to teach a 45-50 minutes class.
Please
be aware of the problems. Ask you children about “bullying.” Ask your
children, and then check them out for yourself. What about homework? It
is not welcomed here as is in the US, for example.
Most
importantly, please support up the teachers. We are near a chaos
situation where teachers are afraid of the parents, the system, the
police, the courts, and, sadly, they are afraid of the children! Good
teachers are leaving the profession, and they are all going to private
institutions.
Compulsory Education
Compulsory education in Israel, requires children from the age of five through age 16, through 10th grade, is supposed
to be "free". This is somewhat misleading, as there are various fees
charged for books, cultural activities, extra hours, meals, and many
other items. Education is free but not compulsory for those from the
age of 16 until completing high school.
Day Care
Day
Care begins as early as 3 months and is up to 3 years. The institutions
offering day care are governmental, institutional, or municipality-run.
(For example: Wizo, Emunah, Naamat, and community centers offer
this program.) They may be subsidized or have a sliding fee, depending
on parents’ work and/or financial situation.
Hours
generally run from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm, with meals included. Many
people use day care because the mother returns to work after a 3-month
paid maternity leave. While day care is usually of good quality,
parents must use their good sense to judge.
Pre-Compulsory Kindergarten
Pre-compulsory kindergarten in Israel, called "Gan,"
is for children aged 3-5 years old. Generally, the municipality runs
these preschools, although the different religious communities also
have their own private preschools. The hours are usually from 7:30 a.m.
to 1:20 p.m., with an option for afternoon care until 4:00 p.m. (in
some preschools). If transportation is needed, private driving
companies are generally available, for an extra cost, of course! The
monthly cost of preschool varies from place to place. Check your rights
as new immigrants for additional discounts.
Compulsory Kindergarten
Kindergarten or "Gan Chova"
(required preschool) is "free" to children ages 5-6. As mentioned
above, there are additional fees for music teachers, reading
instructions, cultural programs and many other "required" activities.
The hours are generally 8 a.m. to 12 or 1 p.m.
Elementary School (1st – 6th grade)
There
are three main tracks of government-run schools in Israel:
Ultra-Orthodox, Orthodox or State Religious and State Secular. Since
1976, there Tali schools have exist, an acronym for
intensifying Judaism studies. These schools offer pluralistic Jewish
studies programs. In addition, there are many different streams to
choose from: Haredi, arts, experimental and others.
In
State secular schools, students study Hebrew literature, grammar and
writing; math, geography, history, science, English and Jewish studies.
In State religious schools, Jewish and religious studies are emphasized.
School
hours are comparatively short in Israel: 8:00 a.m. to 1 or 2:00 p.m.
With new laws and reforms taking place, many schools now have longer
hours.
School
is supposed to be "free," but there are many expenses that add up to a
considerable sum such as: books, study materials, backpacks, school
trips, enrichment programs, school supplies and transportation. When
figuring school costs, be sure to take this into account! Check if
assistance is available to immigrant students.
Schools do not have cafeterias so parents send a snack and lunch is eaten at home.
High School
High School may begin in the 7th grade, or the 9th grade.
Some junior high schools consist of grades 7 to 9.
Senior high schools includes grades 9 to 12.
Again,
there are several options to choose from, depending on your religious,
political, and cultural orientation. Many students go to boarding high
schools where they live on-campus. These consist of yeshivot
for religious people as well as youth villages, agricultural schools,
those for children at risk and those for students with special needs.
It
pays to ask other parents where they are sending their youngsters and
get as much information as possible before choosing a school. Most high
schools have orientation meetings during the registration period.
High school students in Israel must take the "Bagrut" (matriculation) exams to gain entrance to higher education institutions. These begin in the 10th grade and continue until the 12th
grade. They are quite intense, and again, changes are being made in the
system all the time, so check with each individual school for their
requirements and whether there are exceptions for immigrant students.
Depending on whether the high school is private or public will determine the amount of the tuition.
Studies begin at 8 a.m. and last until 12:45 to 3 p.m.
Immigrant
students are generally admitted to the same grade as they were abroad
and parents should request meeting with school educational advisors to
discuss difficulties of their children, strengths and weaknesses.
Students
are eligible for Hebrew tutoring for one and a half years. Parents have
to be responsible to make sure this is implemented.
Higher Education
Israel
has many different options to choose from to obtain an academic degree,
including eight universities and numerous colleges. The primary
universities are the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv
University, Bar Ilan University, the University of Haifa, the Haifa Technion and Ben Gurion University of the Negev. In addition, there are many private and specialized institutions.
Presently
a "psychometric" exam is required for acceptance (but the rules are
changing). Be sure to inquire at each institution about their
individual requirements.
A Final Word
If you are still abroad, planning aliyah, the best ways to find out about education in Israel is to talk to olim. Write olim who have come already who have children the age of your children and ask, ask, ask.
If you do not know anyone, ask your shaliach/shlicha for names of families who have made aliyah who have children the age of your children, make email friends and ask, ask, ask.
Expect
differences and changes from what you and your children are used to. Be
prepared to keep a special vigil on your children and maintain close
contact with the teachers and the school. Contact school principals to
find out what is coming to you as an immigrant parent. Be prepared to
hire tutors if necessary. Do not hesitate to take advantage of school
counselors and other community service agencies.
