Education Minister Kish Blamed for Israel's Worst Ever PISA Test Results

Israel's Education Minister Yoav Kish convened education reporters just half an hour before the release of the nation's worst-ever PISA test results, presenting a 'digital lesson' of excuses. Kish cited a WhatsApp message from Andreas Schleicher, head of the OECD's education division, suggesting that disruptions from the war could have led to even greater declines. However, Schleicher also conveyed to Israeli journalists that he had discussed the results in detail with the minister and advised the ministry to stand behind them.

The latest PISA scores were lower than Israel's previous worst results in 2006, the first year of full participation. Kish attributed the poor performance primarily to the war, citing school closures, displaced students, hostages, and psychological impacts. The article argues that Kish ignores the war's three-year duration and the government's consistent underfunding of education, comparing it to the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Further excuses offered by Kish included a supposed political struggle with the director of the National Institute for Educational Assessment (RAMA), Gal Alon, whom Kish intends to dismiss. Kish also claimed Israeli students answer questions more hastily than others and pointed to declines in France and Germany, and Luxembourg's entry into the rankings. Schleicher himself previously stated that Israel has "21st-century students, 20th-century studies, and 19th-century schools."

The article criticizes Kish for canceling reforms aimed at developing 21st-century skills, such as those initiated by former minister Yifat Shasha-Biton, and for scrapping a national assessment of these skills. It alleges Kish wasted his tenure on controversial heritage studies reforms and pursuing politically vocal teachers, instead of focusing on teacher status, early childhood education, or computer infrastructure. The piece concludes that the PISA results reflect Kish's failures and those of his government, labeling him the worst education minister in Israel's history.