ISRAEL — Access to education in Israel, a country made up of many diverse peoples, is mainly successful since Israel generally provides quality education for its citizens, statistically speaking. Israel’s educational philosophy is executed well in most cases, but there are ways that the country could consider improving accessibility to education for all of its citizens and those within the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Free education in Israel is for students between the ages of three and 15 (through grade 10), and Israel provides four school systems for its diverse population (Arab, Agudat Yisrael, public and private). These systems provide language and religious needs for students of these varying demographics.
The general system of education in Israel begins with kindergarten (one to two years), primary school (six years), junior high (three years), senior high (three years) and compulsory military service with the Israeli Defense Forces for citizens unless they are exempt. Around ages 20–21, students can begin university studies and can work up to higher degrees. Within the system, students are provided with special services such as vocational training and schools for working youth.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that many challenges of Israeli education are related to its history of integrating immigrants from all over the world into the system. Immigrants started coming to Israel after World War II from European and Arab countries, and they continued over the next few decades from various regions of the world.
Students from these diverse backgrounds must acclimate to Jewish and Hebrew language studies that might be unfamiliar as they go through the Israeli educational system. They require specially trained teachers and tools to meet their needs. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stresses that such issues as gender equality, scientific and technology studies, and humanistic curricula are priorities for Israel as they align with standards of education.
According to an Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report, Israel is second among OECD countries for 5- to 14-year-olds and for 25- to 64-year-olds who have tertiary education. On the other hand, mandatory military service does put Israel behind other countries statistically. For example, Israel is proportionally the fourth highest of 15- to 19-year-olds who are neither employed nor in education.
Israel does seem to struggle in one particular area of access to education. Amnesty USA reports that the Palestinians trapped in the Gaza Strip due to the Israeli blockade have trouble accessing higher education in the West Bank, which is part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Students who want to study a program not available in Gaza or with different higher education aspirations face difficulties and dangers in getting the proper permits to study in the West Bank. Israel’s status as the occupying nation gives it the responsibility to secure the welfare of the inhabitants of Gaza, Amnesty USA reports.
Israel can boast about many positive statistics such as that more women with tertiary degrees existed in 2011 than men or women with any other level of education. But the nation still has work to do in allowing access to education, especially concerning the Gaza Strip and continuing to provide quality education for immigrants.
– Addie Pazzynski
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