Israel to Include Majority of Ultra-Orthodox Students in National Standardized Tests Starting Next Year

The Israeli government informed the Supreme Court that starting next academic year, most ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) students will participate in the national Meitzav standardized tests. This decision follows agreements reached with the Independent Education Network affiliated with Yahadut HaTorah, which will join the Shas-affiliated Bnei Yosef network and ultra-Orthodox girls' seminaries that have been taking these tests over the past two years. The move aims to unify the education system's assessment framework by administering uniform exams in Hebrew, English, science, and mathematics to approximately 140,000 additional students, representing about 75% of Haredi pupils from grades one through eight.

Despite this development, the government clarified that participation in the Meitzav tests does not guarantee that core curriculum subjects will be taught in all Haredi schools, as some lack qualified teachers. The Ministry of Education's data highlights significant gaps in curriculum fulfillment and enforcement across different school networks. The state emphasized that while the tests will enable evaluation of student achievements and distinctions between schools, challenges remain similar to those in the general education system, including teacher shortages and large disparities in learning outcomes.

This response was submitted as part of the state's reply to petitions challenging the funding of Haredi institutions that do not teach the full core curriculum. The government stressed ongoing efforts to culturally adapt the tests to the Haredi community to ensure relevance and acceptance. The Supreme Court will consider these developments as it reviews the petitions concerning educational standards and funding in ultra-Orthodox schools.