Almost 6,000 teachers and kindergartners are missing in the education system - according to data published today (Sunday) by the Ministry of Education, which are based on reports from administrators. The exact number of teaching staff who are missing for the coming school year (2018) - 5,671.
In the kindergartens there is a shortage of 117 kindergartners, in the elementary schools 2,351 teachers, in the middle schools there is a shortage of 855 teachers, and in the high schools 1,245 teachers.
As for special education, perhaps the most sensitive and important sector in the education system, there is a shortage of 1,103 teachers and kindergarteners.
The breakdown of the shortage of teaching staff by age group, photo: courtesy of the Ministry of Education
On top of that, there is a shortage of 1,295 classroom teachers.
It should be noted that any teacher in the education system can become an educator, but many are not interested in doing so.
The teachers union has already announced that they will not allow one educator to be in charge of two classes.
Also, the elementary schools have a shortage of 424 English teachers and 251 science teachers.
The breakdown of the shortage of teaching staff by profession, photo: courtesy of the Ministry of Education
The principals' reports refer to two types of shortage: a real shortage, which means that there is no teacher to fill the position, and a "qualitative shortage", which means that a teacher who teaches English, for example, has not been trained to teach English.
The Ministry of Education says that the data was collected as part of the need to formulate a strategic national plan to deal with the shortage and improve the quality of teaching.
But these data really do not fall on the Ministry of Education like a thunderbolt on a bright day: the State Comptroller's report already from 2019 showed the lack of quality teachers from which the system suffers.
Details of the shortage of teaching staff by district, photo: Courtesy of the Ministry of Education
The mapping was conducted among the directors of the educational institutions and is currently valid.
The Ministry of Education stated: "The Ministry continues mapping and updating the data that will accumulate, in preparation for the opening of the upcoming school year."
"Climax of a severe crisis"
The Minister of Education, Dr. Yifat Shasha Biton: "The data prove beyond any doubt that we are at the height of a serious manpower crisis, which has intensified in recent years and endangers the future of the education system.
The crisis is not specific, or in individual professions, but comprehensive and deep in all professions in the system.
"The fight to raise the salary of the teaching staff and improve their status is a fight for the education of our children, for whom we strive to ensure the best and most dedicated education. A significant salary agreement is in the interest of a country that strives for success and excellence, alongside other professional processes that we promote in the system. Our economy and society have no A future without a strong, stable and advanced education system."
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