Israel could have a top 10 education system, minister says

Israel’s education system could be among the top 10 in the world, Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Sunday, a day before some 2 million Israeli students were set to start their new school year.

Speaking at a weekly government meeting, Sa’ar lauded moves that, he said, have saved parents money and improved the system. Education is now state-funded from a younger age, afternoon programs are sponsored in poorer municipalities and youth movements strengthened around the country, he said.

Annual field trips and schoolbooks will also be state subsidized, the minister said. Israel’s “education system is in the process of a very deep change,” he said. If things go as planned, “Israel will be in the top 10 countries” and have one of the world’s best education systems.

A different point of view was expressed by budding politician Yair Lapid, who attacked the education system and said much work remained to be done.

There are no magic tricks in the educational process, Lapid told reporters at a press conference.

“Education is a rigorous and long process,” the former news anchor said. With some hard work, “at the end of the decade Israel could be back where it deserves.”

Lapid has made education one of the cornerstones of his new centrist party, Yesh Atid (There is a future).