Israel's Education System Faces Overcrowding and Teacher Exodus, OECD Report Reveals

A new report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights significant disparities between Israel's education system and those of other developed nations. Key issues identified include overcrowded classrooms and a high rate of early teacher attrition.

Israeli elementary school classes average 27 students, compared to the OECD average of 21, while middle school classes have 30 students versus an OECD average of 23. Only Chile has more crowded classrooms than Israel. The report notes that despite a relatively high number of teachers, many work limited hours, contributing to larger class sizes. Furthermore, 46% of elementary students attend schools where over 10% of the teaching staff lacks full certification, with Jerusalem district reporting 18.1% unqualified teachers.

A major concern is the retention of young teachers, with 77% of those who resigned having less than five years of experience, significantly higher than the OECD average of 38%. Despite this, a higher percentage of Israeli middle school teachers (30.1%) believe their profession is valued by society compared to the OECD average (21.7%). Teacher satisfaction with salaries is similar to the OECD average, with 33.9% reporting satisfaction.

While Israel allocates a substantial portion of its state budget to education, the per-student expenditure is considerably lower than the OECD average. Annual government spending per student in Israel is approximately $11,000, compared to $14,000-$16,000 in many Western European countries. Higher education spending per student is also significantly below the OECD average.

Looking ahead, Israel's student population is projected to grow by 16% between 2024 and 2033, contrasting with an expected 9% decrease in most OECD countries during the same period. The report also indicates that 51% of Israel's adult population holds post-secondary or academic education, exceeding the OECD average of 43%.