Israel's Education System Faces Scrutiny Over Declining Test Scores

Education Minister Yoav Kisch released the national "Mitzav" test results on Tuesday, following months of controversy and delays. The data reveals a concerning decline in Israeli students' performance in science, math, and English, alongside significant gaps based on socioeconomic background and educational sector.

The release proceeded after the Attorney General ruled that Kisch could not prevent the publication of the data, despite the minister's claims that the results were biased and required external review. While the National Institute for Testing and Evaluation (NITE) agreed to postpone the release until late September, Kisch chose to publish the data independently, without coordinating with NITE.

In science for 9th graders, a striking 81% scored in the two lowest performance levels, with only 3% reaching the highest level. Socioeconomic disparities were evident, with 47% of students from high socioeconomic backgrounds scoring in the lowest tier, compared to 66% from lower backgrounds. The state secular education system saw 3% reach the highest level, versus 2% in the state religious system.

Math results for 6th graders showed only 37% met all curriculum requirements, with an additional 26% close to full compliance. High socioeconomic students were more likely to achieve high performance (43%) than low socioeconomic students (26%). Performance varied by oversight: 40% in state secular education reached a high level, compared to 37% in state religious and only 23% in the ultra-Orthodox sector.

English test results for 6th graders indicated that 36% fully met curriculum demands. Again, disparities emerged between sectors: 44% in state secular education achieved high performance, compared to 27% in state religious and 17% in ultra-Orthodox schools. The average score for ultra-Orthodox students was 263, significantly lower than the 311 for state secular students and 308 for Arabic speakers.

The independent release of the data drew criticism from within the education system, with one senior official calling it a "midnight publication" and noting the version released was not final. The Movement for Freedom of Information also criticized the lack of school-level or city-level breakdowns, hindering a comprehensive public understanding. The Ministry of Education defended the release, stating it was due to professional disputes and the need for external review, and that the full data was released after allegations of concealment arose.