Education Ministry tries to get more kids into gifted programs

The ministry hopes to increase the current number of gifted pupils from 16,000 to 18,200 over the course of five years

By SARAH LEVI
Updated: OCTOBER 25, 2017 00:43
Group of students raising hands during a lesson in the classroom. [Illustrative] (photo credit: INGIMAGE)
Group of students raising hands during a lesson in the classroom. [Illustrative]
(photo credit: INGIMAGE)
The Educational Ministry announced it is continuing efforts to increase the number of gifted pupils ahead of the nationwide gifted student placement exams taking place on Wednesday.
The ministry hopes to increase the current number of gifted pupils from 16,000 to 18,200 over the course of five years, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
Their first step is to increase the number of pupils taking the exam to 3,500. To do that, 500 additional students will need to be tested.
The first phase of exams, which tests pupils on their language and math skills, is open to all second-graders.
The test is designed to help identify the top 15% of talented pupils.
Those who score in the top 15% move on to a second- phase screening process.
The ministry is committed to having more pupils take the exam than in previous years, especially among Arab, haredi (ultra-Orthodox) and pupils living in the periphery.
Earlier in the week, the ministry’s Facebook page posted the following message in both Hebrew and Arabic to parents:
Dear Parents,
Are your children going to the Gifted Examination this week? In preparation for the test, which will take place on Wednesday 25.10.2017, here are a few sample questions from the Gifted Examination:
http://meyda.education.gov.il/files/Owl/ Hebrew/sald_eb.pdf
It is very important not to create unnecessary stress among the students and to allow them to deal with the exam calmly. There is no need to prepare for the exam.
Good luck!
Education Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement: “The ministry is committed to fostering excellence, and this year we started to translate this into action. We have increased all the gifted and outstanding programs, with the goal of providing an advanced and suitable framework for every student who has the talent and the will. Our job is to bring the students upwards, all of them, and we are determined to do so.”