Israel's Education Minister Halts School Exams Week Before Election
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
Israeli Minister of Education Yoav Kisch has suspended the national MEITZAV school exams just one week before elections, citing the need to correct "erroneous data" based on a professor's report. The decision halts the work of the National Institute for Educational Assessment and Evaluation (RAMA) and follows a dispute between Kisch and RAMA's director. The exams revealed low student proficiency in key subjects and significant socioeconomic disparities. Professor Avi Moyal, who reviewed the results, found the data accurate but recommended improvements to the system.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Education Minister Yoav Kisch suspended MEITZAV school exams a week before Israeli elections.
- The suspension is to correct "erroneous data" according to a report by Professor Ami Moyal.
- The National Institute for Educational Assessment and Evaluation (RAMA) has suspended operations.
- MEITZAV exam results showed low student proficiency in science, math, and English.
- Significant disparities in results were found across socioeconomic groups.
- Professor Avi Moyal found the exam data accurate but recommended system improvements.
Israeli Minister of Education Yoav Kisch announced on Tuesday, October 20, a temporary halt to the MEITZAV (School Effectiveness and Development Index) exams. The decision comes a week before the Knesset elections and is intended to allow for corrections to the exams based on a report by Professor Ami Moyal, chairman of the Planning and Financing Committee of the Council for Higher Education. The National Institute for Educational Assessment and Evaluation (RAMA) has been instructed to suspend its operations until the report's recommendations are implemented, and its staff are barred from ministry offices. The move follows a sharp dispute between Minister Kisch and RAMA's Director General Gal Alon after the release of the MEITZAV exam results. Kisch stated that he accepted Prof. Moyal's recommendations and would not publish "erroneous data" until corrections are made. Consequently, the issue of the exams and RAMA's work will likely be resolved only after the elections and the formation of a new government, with Kisch's future role as Education Minister uncertain. MEITZAV is a standardized Israeli test assessing student knowledge, school atmosphere, and curriculum effectiveness. Previously, on September 8, Kisch had released MEITZAV results he had delayed publishing for months due to disagreements with RAMA, claiming the data was processed prejudicially. The published results indicated low proficiency in science, math, and English, with significant disparities across socioeconomic groups and educational systems. Science and technology in ninth grade showed particularly poor results, with only 3% of students achieving a high level. The report also noted that the gap between Hebrew and Arabic speaking students was not significant, with both groups showing weaknesses. The highest results in science were observed in the Druze sector and among middle-class Arabic-speaking students, while the lowest were among low-income Hebrew-speaking students. State schools reported 3% high achievement and 53% low achievement, while state-religious schools had 2% high and 57% low. Socioeconomic status was a major factor, with 47% of students from affluent families scoring low compared to 66% from low-income families. Gender differences in performance were minimal. Forty-five percent of test-takers reported high motivation. Professor Avi Moyal's investigation found no grounds to doubt the data's accuracy but proposed steps to improve the situation, including better coordination, revised instructions, expanded digital formats, increased student motivation, and legislative changes regarding RAMA's status.
