Israel Faces Shortage of 5,000 Teachers, Education Union Chief Warns
Yaffa Ben-David, chairwoman of the Israeli Teachers' Union, warned on August 23, 2026, that the education system currently lacks nearly 5,000 teaching staff. Speaking on Radio 103FM, she emphasized that without a strategic plan addressing the root causes, the shortage will worsen. Ben-David stressed that while salary increases are important, they alone cannot resolve the crisis. She highlighted the need to make the education system an attractive workplace to retain and recruit qualified teachers.
Ben-David pointed out that the teaching profession has lost its previous appeal as a mission-driven career, a trend seen globally across many sectors. She called for addressing deeper issues such as violence in schools, special education legislation, and restoring trust and authority to school principals and teaching teams. Regarding special education, she criticized recent legislation for focusing too narrowly on budget concerns, which she said has led to systemic collapse.
The union leader also noted progress in managing parental involvement through a new directive clarifying interactions between parents and educators. She urged parents to respect and trust teachers to maintain quality education. Ben-David acknowledged the problem of unqualified individuals being hired to fill gaps but affirmed that many excellent trained educators remain in the system despite facing disrespect from some parents.
Addressing classroom overcrowding, she described it as a longstanding issue ignored for decades. Ben-David compared Israel unfavorably to OECD countries, citing longer teaching hours and crowded classrooms and kindergartens. She called for comprehensive solutions combining salary, status, and working conditions improvements.
Ben-David advocated establishing a national public council for education, including academics, field experts, and union representatives, to develop a strategic plan independent of political changes. She reaffirmed her commitment to keeping the public education system under state control and criticized the Finance Ministry for overstepping its role in education policy. She concluded by wishing educators and students a successful new school year starting September 1.
Summary: Yaffa Ben-David, head of Israel's Teachers' Union, revealed a shortage of about 5,000 teachers and warned the crisis will worsen without strategic reforms. She called for better salaries, working conditions, and respect for educators, alongside systemic changes in special education and parental involvement. Ben-David also proposed forming a national council to guide education policy and stressed keeping the system public and state-controlled.
