New Program Trains Hundreds of Kindergarten Assistants to Become Certified Teachers in Israel

The Israeli Local Government Association has launched a new initiative called "Horizon in Motion" to provide kindergarten assistants, often known as education supporters, with a professional advancement path. This program enables participants to earn a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and obtain teaching certification. The initiative aims to address the shortage of kindergarten teachers by training experienced assistants already familiar with the educational environment.

For years, these assistants have worked closely with kindergarten teachers and children, gaining valuable experience, but had limited opportunities for career progression. The new program seeks to transform their accumulated experience into a formal professional track, allowing them to become certified teachers and potentially advance to management roles within local education systems.

Participants will receive academic training alongside financial support, including an annual scholarship of 6,000 shekels. The program currently has about 40 trained education supporters, with plans to expand significantly in the 2023-2024 school year. Approximately 600 assistants from around 50 local authorities across Israel are expected to join the program.

Haim Bibas, chairman of the Local Government Center and mayor of Modi'in, emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating that assistants have long dedicated themselves to children and staff without clear career prospects. The program addresses two challenges simultaneously: creating professional advancement opportunities for long-serving assistants and increasing the pool of qualified kindergarten teachers by training experienced personnel already within the system.

If successful, this initiative could help alleviate the teacher shortage while empowering education supporters to advance their careers and contribute more significantly to early childhood education in Israel.