Zeut Party Proposes School Voucher System and Director Autonomy

The Israeli political party Zeut is advocating for a significant overhaul of the country's education system, proposing a model where school budgets follow students, known as a voucher system. This approach, detailed by Zeut candidate Arkady Mutter in an interview with MIG TV, aims to grant school principals greater autonomy in decision-making.

Under Zeut's plan, parents would have more influence in choosing schools, fostering competition among educational institutions. While the Ministry of Education would retain oversight of core curriculum and regulatory compliance, schools would gain authority over teaching methodologies, organizational structures, and specialized programs. "We need to give maximum autonomy to school principals," Mutter stated.

The proposed financial model involves monthly vouchers for each student, estimated between 2,000 and 2,500 shekels. Mutter explained that this per-student funding would enable schools to independently manage teacher salaries, recruit new educators, and develop diverse educational approaches. Mutter himself has experience with alternative education, having contributed to the creation of a school focused on individualized learning paces and abilities.

This proposal comes amidst ongoing discussions about educational reform and following the release of the PISA 2025 results. The OECD reported that Israeli 15-year-olds scored below the OECD average in mathematics (433 vs. 463), reading (436 vs. 461), and science (442 vs. 482). These scores represent a decline from the 2022 PISA study.