Study Finds Israeli Teachers’ Skills Lag Behind OECD Peers, Especially in Math and Science

A recent study by Dr. Yael Meltzer from the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research reveals that Israeli teachers score significantly lower than their counterparts in OECD countries across nearly all skill areas. Based on the 2022-2023 international PIAAC adult skills survey, Israeli teachers ranked 16th out of 19 countries tested, even below Chile. The study highlights that only 78% of Israeli teachers hold academic degrees compared to 84% in OECD countries, and just 37% have master's degrees versus 49% in the OECD.

More concerning is the gap in skills between Israeli teachers and other academics with similar education levels, particularly in mathematics and science fields. Israeli teachers scored 14.4% lower in literacy, 10.3% lower in math, and 15.9% lower in problem-solving compared to similarly educated professionals in other fields. This contrasts with OECD countries, where STEM-educated teachers tend to outperform their academic peers.

The research also points to significant disparities within Israel’s education streams. Teachers in Arab education scored an average of 228, while those in ultra-Orthodox education scored 261, state education 268, and state-religious education 271, all below the OECD average of 281. Jewish university-educated teachers scored 3.8% to 6.2% lower than other similarly educated workers, with smaller gaps among college-educated teachers.

Professor Dan Ben-David, president of Shoresh, emphasized that Israel struggles to attract and retain highly skilled academics as teachers. He called for reforms in teacher recruitment, training, and compensation, including raising admission standards and prioritizing actual skills. He also recommended that teachers first earn a university degree in their subject before receiving pedagogical training, alongside targeted investments in Arab and early childhood education to address particularly low skill levels. Without such measures, narrowing the gap with leading OECD countries and improving teaching quality in Israel will remain difficult.