Israeli Finance Ministry Official: No Average Teacher Shortage, Proposes Ending Friday Classes

Ovad Alqabatz, head of teaching staff at the Finance Ministry's Wage વિભાગ, stated that Israel does not face an overall shortage of teachers, but rather a qualitative one, particularly in science fields and the central region. He argues that the perceived shortage is exacerbated by an excessive number of teaching hours, leading to teacher burnout and a decline in educational quality. Alqabatz proposes eliminating Friday classes as a crucial step to reduce teacher workload and improve the system.

Alqabatz, who will lead upcoming salary negotiations with teacher unions, believes that despite significant investment, educational outcomes are declining. He attributes this to structural issues and inefficient resource allocation, drawing parallels to investment strategies where routing is as important as the amount invested. He warns against a general salary spiral in the economy, emphasizing that across-the-board raises for teachers could negatively impact other sectors.

Instead of broad salary increases, Alqabatz advocates for structural changes, including revised entry requirements and improved training. He supports the ministry's recent initiative to hire teachers on personal contracts for ten-month periods, offering competitive salaries and bonuses, to address specific needs with greater flexibility. He also expressed reservations about the Budget Department's plan to transfer teacher employment to local authorities, stressing the need for decentralization first.

Alqabatz shared his personal experience as a father paying over NIS 8,000 monthly for kindergarten, highlighting the critical importance and high return on investment in early childhood education. He also noted that the current system, with schools operating six days a week while teachers work five, leads to daily absences and instability, and that shifting Friday classes to summer would help balance teacher workload and reduce vacation gaps with parents.