OECD Report Highlights Israel's Growing Student Population and Teacher Shortages

A new report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reveals that Israel's student population is rapidly increasing, contrasting with a declining trend in most other member nations. Between 2015 and 2024, the number of children aged 5-9 in Israel grew by approximately 18%, and those aged 10-14 by 19%. This demographic surge is projected to continue, with a further 16% increase expected by 2033 for the 5-14 age group. This trend necessitates continuous expansion of classrooms, schools, and teaching staff in Israel, while other countries may use declining student numbers to reduce class sizes.

Despite efforts to expand educational infrastructure, Israeli classrooms remain among the largest in the developed world. Primary school classes average around 27 students, compared to the OECD average of 21, and middle school classes average 30 students versus the OECD average of 23. The report also highlights that approximately 7.1% of Israeli teachers lack full certification, a figure slightly below the OECD average of 9.1%. However, this national average masks significant disparities, with 46% of public primary school students attending schools where over a tenth of teachers are not fully qualified. Jerusalem district shows particularly high rates, with about 18.1% of teachers lacking full certification.

A notable challenge identified is the high attrition rate of early-career teachers in Israel, with 77% of departing teachers having less than five years of experience, significantly higher than the OECD average. While the overall teacher turnover rate in Israel is relatively low due to retirements, retaining young educators presents a distinct problem.

Israel invests a substantial portion of its GDP in education, around 6.2% in 2023, exceeding the OECD average of 4.7%. This high expenditure is partly due to Israel's young demographic structure, requiring funding for a larger proportion of students relative to its economy. The report also notes a significant rise in participation in early childhood education, with enrollment for children under two increasing from 22% to 51% and for two-year-olds from 40% to 75% between 2015 and 2024. However, demand still outstrips supply, and per-child spending in early childhood education remains relatively low.

While Israel has a high proportion of highly educated adults (51% with tertiary education compared to the OECD average of 43%), growth in this area has stagnated among younger generations. The report also indicates that while real teacher salaries have increased significantly over the past decade, their relative standing compared to other highly educated professionals has declined, potentially hindering the recruitment of quality staff.