Israeli Education and Finance Ministries Negotiate Multi-Year Plan to Implement Special Education Reform

The Israeli Ministries of Education and Finance are currently negotiating a multi-year budget plan aimed at implementing the recommendations of the Shapira Committee to address challenges in special education. Education Minister Yoav Kish announced this during a Knesset Education Committee meeting on Thursday, emphasizing that the plan could continue beyond the upcoming elections if future ministers remain committed. The special education budget has increased by approximately two billion shekels annually in recent years, creating a significant financial strain.

Upon taking office, Kish appointed a committee led by former El Al CEO Amos Shapira, which included 170 experts and representatives, to develop broad consensus solutions. The committee concluded that expanding inclusive education is the only viable solution, recommending reducing average class sizes from over 30 to 19 students by reallocating existing teaching hours without hiring additional teachers. It also called for comprehensive teacher training in inclusive education and increased investment in early childhood education to identify and address issues sooner.

Implementing these recommendations would require a one-time investment of 14 billion shekels, mainly for classroom construction, plus an annual increase of 1.5 billion shekels primarily for additional kindergarten teachers. The committee also stressed the need for new collective agreements with teachers’ unions, which would entail further costs. The Finance Ministry has expressed skepticism about the plan’s effectiveness in curbing the rapid growth of special education needs. Kish deferred implementation to 2027, effectively passing the responsibility to his successor.

During the Knesset session, Kish reported ongoing negotiations with the Finance Ministry on a "New Deal" multi-year education budget to secure funding for the Shapira Committee’s recommendations, with implementation expected to begin in the 2027-2028 school year. Education Ministry Director General Meir Shimoni outlined key program principles, including reducing class sizes, building more classrooms, training teachers for special education, and reducing teaching hours.

The session opened with tension as Kish assured a smooth school year start without expected disruptions from teachers’ unions. However, representatives from the school principals’ organization Manhigim protested, accusing Kish of being disconnected and ignoring their concerns. Manhigim’s director general, Gil Mushkovitz, was removed from the meeting. The group has boycotted recent school year opening events over budget cuts to special education and alleged intimidation of principals. Kish defended the ministry’s position, affirming that legally, teachers’ unions represent school leaders. Addressing the teacher shortage, Kish noted that 5,000 to 7,000 teachers retire each summer, with similar shortages expected next year, particularly in central Israel and Tel Aviv due to high living costs affecting recruitment of quality educators.