General21:00 · Aug 25

Thousands of Israeli Professionals Transition from High-Tech to Teaching to Address Education Challenges

YnetCenter

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

Key points

01Over 70,000 academics joined Israeli teaching retraining programs in the past decade.
02Israeli teachers rank low in OECD skills assessments, prompting recruitment efforts.
03Muni Carmeli, ex-high-tech VP, will teach STEM using AI tools in northern Israel.
04Several professionals left high-paying careers for teaching to find meaning and impact.
05Ministry of Education provides mentoring and tailored support for career changers.
06Studies show career changers remain in teaching longer than traditional trainees.

In this story

People

Muni Carmeli, Shiri Margalit, Asaf Esh, Tal Shamir, Asaf Arditi, Dr. Lili Russo, Professor Smadar Donitsa-Schmidt, Dr. Roni Ramot

OrganizationsMinistry of Education, Levinsky-Wingate Academic Center, Kibbutzim College

PlacesKiryat Yam, Kiryat Bialik, Modiin, Petah Tikva, Tel Aviv, Kfar Saba, Israel

The story · English

Over the past decade, 70,872 Israeli academics have participated in Ministry of Education programs designed to retrain professionals from fields like high-tech, finance, and the military into teaching roles. This initiative aims to improve the quality of education amid studies showing Israeli teachers rank low in OECD assessments, with a recent study placing them 16th out of 19 countries, below Chile.

One notable participant is Muni Carmeli, 65, a former Albit development VP and medical patents holder, who recently completed a specialized teaching program for STEM subjects at Levinsky-Wingate Academic Center. Carmeli plans to teach math and science at high schools in Kiryat Yam and Kiryat Bialik, integrating AI tools in his lessons to engage students and elevate their learning.

Other career changers include Shiri Margalit, a former high-tech professional with degrees in computer science and business administration, now teaching math and software engineering in Modiin; Asaf Esh, 60, who left a 26-year high-tech career to teach history and Bible studies in Petah Tikva; and Tal Shamir, a 39-year-old former lawyer who shifted to education after homeschooling her children and now teaches ninth grade.

Additionally, Asaf Arditi, 42, transitioned from international finance to full-time teaching in Kfar Saba following the events of October 7, emphasizing the value of education in shaping Israel's future. The Ministry of Education supports these career changers through mentoring and tailored programs, recognizing their professional experience as a valuable asset.

Dr. Lili Russo, head of academic training at the Ministry, highlighted the importance of integrating these professionals, while Professor Smadar Donitsa-Schmidt noted that career changers tend to remain in teaching longer than traditional trainees. Dr. Roni Ramot of the Kibbutzim College emphasized that career changers are now a significant and intentional part of the education system, seeking meaningful work after established careers.

These programs reflect a strategic effort to enhance Israel's education system by attracting skilled professionals to teaching, despite challenges such as lower salaries compared to their previous fields.

Read the original at Ynet