Israeli Education Minister Proposes New Heritage Bagrut Exam Ahead of Elections

The Israeli Ministry of Education is considering adding a new matriculation exam in heritage studies as part of Education Minister Yoav Kish's broader plan to expand Jewish and Zionist education in schools. The proposal, revealed on Channel 13 news, involves extending the existing "For Me Heritage" course, currently taught in elementary schools, to high schools with a two-unit Bagrut exam. Despite tight timelines, ministry officials were instructed to explore implementing the exam as early as next year.

This initiative builds on Kish's May 2022 program "Roots - The National Program for Jewish and Zionist Identity," which made a Bible proficiency test mandatory for all fourth graders in state and state-religious schools. The program also mandates a minimum weekly Bible study hour for all students from grades 1 through 12 under national supervision, and compulsory homeland studies starting in second grade.

The ministry emphasized that these educational reforms reflect a significant policy shift, including mandatory heritage activities outside school such as tours in Judea and Samaria, visits to national sites, intergenerational learning, and ceremonies. Over 1,600 teachers have already participated in professional development courses on identity and heritage, with new professional communities, dedicated scholarships, and teacher training pathways established to support the program's rollout.

These steps aim to deepen Jewish and Zionist identity among Israeli students nationwide, with plans to expand the "For Me Heritage" course to middle schools by 2027. The ministry's comprehensive approach combines curricular changes, extracurricular activities, and educator training to institutionalize heritage education across the Israeli school system.