Israeli Education Minister Admits War Fronts Remain Unresolved

Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch acknowledged that a key war front has not yet been decided, stating, "This front of Israel in the war has simply not been decided." Speaking on the radio station 103FM, Kisch linked the current poor performance of Israeli students to the ongoing difficult war years. He projected that Israel would still be fighting in Gaza in March 2025, and that combat operations in Lebanon had not yet begun, placing the country in a "war routine" about six months before the potential return of hostages.

Kisch addressed the declining student grades, admitting they are not good but asserting they are not surprising given the circumstances. He cited Professor Andreas Schleicher, the head of education at the OECD, who reportedly stated that while there are declines, they are not unexpected and are part of a broader trend in many countries over the last decade. Kisch claimed that Germany's educational declines are even steeper than Israel's when comparing the war-affected nation to the non-warring Germany.

He emphasized that the educational downturn is natural due to the war and requires increased investment in education for correction. Kisch noted that test dates were postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic but insisted on proceeding with assessments to understand and analyze the situation. He expressed his desire to continue as Education Minister to oversee the expected improvements in future PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) results, citing implemented reforms and investments aimed at boosting student performance.