Education Minister's Probe Finds No Grounds to Doubt National Test Reliability
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
An external committee appointed by Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch found no factual basis to doubt the reliability of national exams administered by RAMA. The committee, led by Prof. Moyal, concluded that RAMA operates professionally, though it noted a trust crisis and work process issues with the Ministry. Kisch had previously alleged serious professional failures and malicious intent, but the report found joint professional procedures governed the exams. The committee recommended a system requiring both a professional assessment body and an involved Ministry for effective national evaluation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- An external committee found no factual basis to doubt the reliability of national exams administered by RAMA.
- Education Minister Yoav Kisch had previously alleged serious professional failures and malicious intent by RAMA.
- The committee, headed by Prof. Moyal, concluded that RAMA operates professionally.
- The report identified a crisis of trust and issues in work processes between RAMA and the Ministry of Education.
- Prof. Moyal disagreed with Kisch's assertion that informing students tests were not graded personally harmed reliability.
- The committee recommended a system requiring both a professional assessment body and an involved Ministry.
An external committee appointed by the Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch, to investigate the National Authority for Measurement and Evaluation in Education (RAMA) has found no factual basis to question the reliability of national exams. The committee, headed by Prof. Moyal, concluded that RAMA operates professionally, but also identified a crisis of trust and issues in work processes between RAMA and the Ministry of Education.
Kisch had previously expressed strong doubts about the data, stating in May that "it is clear to everyone that these are not data reflecting the situation" and that "serious professional failures in RAMA reports in a way that raises grave concern that they were done maliciously." He had also initiated proceedings to dismiss RAMA's Director General, Dr. Gal Alon.
However, the committee's report, released on October 19, 2026, found that the performance levels and reporting methods were determined and approved through joint professional procedures between RAMA and the Ministry. Prof. Moyal stated that there was no factual foundation to doubt the reliability of the exam results.
Regarding Kisch's claim that RAMA's management lacks systematic work processes with the Ministry, the report indicated that RAMA collaborates with many units and officials within the Ministry. Nevertheless, it highlighted a lack of a comprehensive management framework for an overall systemic view.
Kisch also argued that the clarification given to students that the tests were not graded personally led to student disregard. Prof. Moyal disagreed, accepting RAMA's claim regarding the reliability of the findings and stating that the clarification did not harm their reliability. He added that a national assessment test should not be based on creating the impression among students that the grade has personal significance when it does not.
Prof. Moyal concluded that an effective national assessment system requires both a professional, independent, and reliable assessment body and an involved Ministry of Education that defines needs and goals and uses the information for system management and improvement. He emphasized that the main challenge is to establish orderly relations and clear work processes. Moyal chose not to address Kisch's personal attacks on Dr. Gal Alon.
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