Over Half of Israelis Rate Education System Negatively and See It as Unequal, Survey Finds

A recent social survey by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics reveals that only 42% of Israelis aged 20 and above view the education system positively, while 51% give it a negative rating. Just 9% consider the system to be "very good," and 33% say it is "good," but 32% rate it as "not so good" and 19% as "not good at all." Furthermore, only 49% believe the education system provides equitable services to all population groups.

Despite the overall criticism, parents express higher satisfaction with their children's educational institutions: 91% of parents of pre-kindergarten children and 89% of kindergarten parents are satisfied with their respective kindergartens. Satisfaction remains relatively high among parents of elementary (80%) and secondary school students (79%).

The survey also highlights significant weaknesses, including dissatisfaction with teaching quality and physical conditions. Among elementary school parents, 28% are unhappy with teaching quality and 24% with school facilities; among secondary school parents, 27% are dissatisfied with teaching, 22% with facilities, and 21% with school location. Private tutoring has become widespread, with 35% of elementary and 39% of secondary students receiving private lessons in the year before the survey.

Remote learning continues to face skepticism, with only 13% of elementary and 19% of secondary school parents considering it effective, while about two-thirds in each group view it as ineffective. Compared to a decade ago, satisfaction with kindergartens has improved, but teaching quality in schools has not, and the rate of students receiving private tutoring has increased since 2015.

In response, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman has initiated an audit focused on combating youth violence in schools, urging education leaders to act decisively to eradicate violence within the system. Additionally, 36% of Israelis say education is the public service they would prioritize for reform, more than any other sector including healthcare, national security, police, judiciary, and welfare.