Speaking with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Thursday 21 Menachem Av, Education Minister Naftali Bennett explained that English is an essential skill in the 21st century and while he has nothing against Shakespeare, English is more important.
“If we graduate students without an ability to read and write in English, this is a handicap that will impact their lives and many doors will be closed to them as a result”.
Bennett adds that while the education system is wonderful there is room for improvement. He stresses his comment regarding Shakespeare should not be interpreted as oppositional, but he feels from a practical point of view with the limited time available, students will benefit more from English, a life skill, than Shakespeare, which one can study one’s entire life.
Bennett adds that NIS tens of millions are being invested into English, with an emphasis on periphery community such as Ofakim, which have not been treated fairly in the past.
Galei Tzahal:
Yediot and Yisrael Hayom report a critical shortage of teachers.
Bennett:
There are 2.2 million students and 180,000 students and they will all enter classrooms next Thursday as the system is ready. It is true we need additional teachers in English and mathematics, and this has been the case over the past 20 years. This is why we have various programs in place to enlist additional teachers. However, it is important for parents to realize every class will be ready with a qualified competent teacher come September 1st.
The system is ready from Eilat to Metula and between now and next week I am attending a marathon of meetings around the country but the system stands ready.
The parents of Israel can rest assured that the education system is also more personalized. The matter of classroom size is important and in first and second grades, average classroom size is 28 children as compared to when the state began the average it was 40. This permits more individualized attention in addition to the classes with an additional assistant, once again to permit more individualized attention.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Obviously, students need minimal English language skills to survive in today’s world but that doesn’t mean they have to study Shakespeare’s sonets. However, to allow a boy or girl to graduate from high school without the ability to communicate in both Hebrew and English is borderline negligence since it will make it very difficult for them to earn a parnassah in a global economy (or even a quality choson/kalah since most of the “good catches” will want an educated partner).