New Study Finds Israeli Teachers' Skills Among Lowest in OECD, Especially in STEM Subjects

A recent study by Dr. Yael Meltzer and Prof. Dan Ben-David from the Shoresh Institution reveals that Israeli teachers possess significantly lower skill levels compared to other academics in Israel and teachers in most OECD countries. The research, based on an international survey assessing adult literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving in technology-rich environments, highlights a troubling gap where Israeli teachers lag behind their peers in other sectors.

The study identifies a paradox in STEM education: while professionals in Israel's high-tech and industrial sectors demonstrate high skill levels, science and technology teachers in Israeli schools show even lower proficiency than teachers of humanities and social sciences. This discrepancy is attributed to competition with the private sector, which offers more lucrative rewards to skilled individuals, leaving the public education system with less qualified teachers who often enter teaching after failing to secure positions in the knowledge economy.

The researchers criticize the Ministry of Education's recruitment and compensation model, which prioritizes formal degrees and seniority over actual skills, creating negative incentives. Many candidates obtain education degrees merely to meet minimum requirements and salary thresholds, despite lacking real competencies. This issue is particularly pronounced among male teachers, who show a large skill gap compared to men in other academic professions.

Furthermore, the weakest links in the system are identified as teachers in the Arab education stream and early childhood educators, who score lowest in skill assessments. The study warns that this situation threatens Israel's economic future by impairing students' ability to acquire necessary skills for a modern economy.

To address these challenges, the authors recommend structural reforms: requiring teachers to first earn a full academic degree in their subject area before undergoing a brief teaching certification, and overhauling the salary system to reward demonstrated quality and ability rather than tenure. These changes aim to attract and retain highly skilled educators in Israeli classrooms.