Israeli Education and Health Ministries Face Criticism Over Declining Student Achievement and Mental Health Crisis

Two of Israel's largest civilian ministries, Education and Health, are under scrutiny for significant declines in student performance and a collapsing mental health system. The Ministry of Education oversaw a period where Israeli students achieved their lowest scores ever on international assessments, including a 38-point drop in reading on the PISA 2025 test. Concurrently, the ministry controversially transferred approximately 1 billion shekels to Haredi education networks through an illegal process, as determined by the High Court of Justice. Minister Yoav Kisch has denied a shortage of teachers, despite many math and Hebrew instructors lacking proper qualifications. The Ministry of Health, meanwhile, has seen four ministers in four years. A state comptroller report found the mental health system in crisis following the October 7th attacks, exacerbated by a severe shortage of doctors. Between 2023 and 2025, 1,369 doctors left Israel, a 94% increase compared to the previous decade.

Student performance in math and science also saw sharp declines. On the TIMSS 2023 test, eighth-graders' math scores dropped from 519 to 487, and science scores from 513 to 481, marking the steepest decline among OECD countries since 2007. PISA 2025 results showed further deterioration, with reading scores falling to 436 and math scores to 433, significantly below the OECD average. The article notes that while Minister Kisch attributed these results to the war, the TIMSS 2023 results were recorded before October 7th. The teacher shortage is critical, with reports indicating that 63% of middle school Hebrew teachers and about 30% of high school math teachers are unqualified. Despite these issues, the Ministry of Education allocated funds to Haredi networks, a move later deemed illegal by the High Court of Justice. There are also allegations that the ministry attempted to influence PISA test results and suppress negative data.

The Ministry of Health has been marked by frequent leadership changes and a lack of adequate funding. The coalition agreement with the Shas party promised 5.8 billion shekels for healthcare, but only 1.5 billion was allocated in the 2023-2024 budget draft. The mental health system, in particular, was found unprepared for the war's aftermath. Despite a third of Israelis reporting post-traumatic symptoms, only 0.6% received mental health treatment in the six months following October 7th. Waiting times for psychiatrists reached six and a half months. The doctor shortage is projected to worsen, with a significant increase in physicians leaving the country, including specialists. A Tel Aviv University study indicated that 1,369 doctors left Israel between 2023 and 2025, with 2024 seeing a record net loss of 328 physicians.