Bennett announces major fixes in education system

Education Minister Naftali Bennett promised to personalize Israeli ed.

By SARAH LEVI
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Naftali Bennett greet students on the first day of school, September 2017 (photo credit: ODED KARNI)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Naftali Bennett greet students on the first day of school, September 2017
(photo credit: ODED KARNI)
Having promised to fix the problem of overcrowded classrooms, Education Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday said educational standards have taken a leap forward.
Addressing fellow ministers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bennett said schoolchildren experienced growth unlike anything the country has seen in years, reporting that the school year began peacefully and smoothly.
Bennett was giving his special report on the education system in honor of the new school year.
Promising more personalized education, Bennett addressed the improvements, starting at the kindergarten level, announcing the addition of teaching assistants for 15,112 kindergartens, “which means there will be three adults to each classroom of about 32 children. This will transform babysitting into education.”
At the elementary school level, he marked the progress in shrinking classroom sizes in first through third grades. Noting that only a few years ago, the average classroom held 40 pupils, he said the ministry is working to bring it down to 27, “which will bring us up to international standards.”