Or Yehuda Expands Science and Technology Programs for Students

The Or Yehuda Municipality is enhancing its science, innovation, and technology programs for local students. A recent event introduced the city's Excellence Center programs, now in their third year, to dozens of parents. The center, led by the Education Department and the Cyber Center for Digital Innovation in cooperation with the Ministry of Education's gifted and outstanding students division, aims to foster personal excellence, scientific thinking, creativity, and innovation.

During the event, Yafit Shohamli, the Cyber Center coordinator, and her team presented various study tracks tailored for different age groups, from first to seventh grade. These include "Scientific Cooking" to understand processes through food, robotics and programming for algorithmic thinking, drone technology for engineering principles, financial education for early economic concepts, "Young Scientist" for nurturing curiosity and scientific inquiry, and "Leadership in Sports" for developing responsibility and initiative.

Arthur Zamszman, CEO of YTEK, attended and spoke about the importance of connecting education with science and technology. Mayor Liat Shohat addressed the parents, emphasizing the city's commitment to expanding educational opportunities and providing advanced resources for children, viewing it as a long-term investment in human capital. She stated that the education system's role is to identify abilities, nurture curiosity, and equip children for future challenges, defining excellence as a worldview based on belief in each child's potential.

Dalila Ashkenazi, Director of the Education Department, summarized the center's significance as a practical manifestation of Or Yehuda's educational vision. She highlighted the focus on the individual child, skill development, and providing tools for entrepreneurship, leadership, and independent thinking. The department aims to build a quality pedagogical continuum that exposes students to advanced knowledge from a young age, cultivating a curious, value-driven generation confident in its ability to influence and lead.