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

Ovad Alqabats, the official in charge of teaching staff in the Finance Ministry's Wage વિભાગ, stated that Israel does not face an average shortage of teachers, but rather a qualitative one, particularly in science fields and the central region. He argued that the perceived shortage is exacerbated by an excessive number of teaching hours, leading to teacher burnout and a decline in educational performance despite increased investment. Alqabats proposed eliminating Friday classes as a key measure to reduce teacher workload and improve the quality of education.

Alqabats, who will lead upcoming salary negotiations with teacher unions, expressed concerns about a potential wage spiral in the economy if salaries are raised across the board. He cautioned against transferring teacher employment to local authorities, emphasizing the need for structural reforms and improved training over blanket salary increases. He highlighted the ministry's initiative to hire teachers on personal contracts for ten months, offering a salary of NIS 19,500 for a 30-hour week and a NIS 20,000 bonus, aiming for greater flexibility and targeted improvements.

He acknowledged that while Israel's education system is strong in many aspects and receives high per-student investment compared to OECD averages, student performance has been declining. Alqabats attributed this to inefficient allocation of resources and the strain of a high birth rate, compounded by recent challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts. He stressed that the upcoming salary agreement will involve significant structural changes, including the proposed shift to a five-day school week to alleviate teacher burden and enhance educational quality.

Alqabats also shared his personal experience as a parent, paying over NIS 8,000 monthly for kindergarten, underscoring the critical need for increased investment in early childhood education due to its high return. He believes that addressing the centralization of the Ministry of Education is also crucial before considering changes to the employer structure.