ducation Minister Announces Shift to Remote Learning: Summer Matriculation Exams Postponed

In light of the ongoing security situation, Education Minister Yoav Kish announced on Saturday evening that all educational institutions will operate via remote learning only during the coming week. The announcement applies to all levels of the education system—kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.

Kish also confirmed that all summer matriculation exams will be postponed by exactly one week.

School Year Nearing Its End Amid Uncertainty

Middle and high schools are scheduled to end the academic year in one week, while elementary schools and kindergartens are expected to finish in two and a half weeks. The education minister said the decision to shift entirely to distance learning was made to provide stability and certainty in the final stretch of the school year.

“A day-by-day approach to decisions risks causing chaos and wasting an entire school week,” Kish said.

Emphasis on Support in Early Childhood Education

The minister emphasized that in kindergartens, the goal of remote learning is not academic efficiency, but emotional connection.

“The great importance of distance learning in kindergartens lies in the ability of the teacher to emotionally engage the child—even if it's just a few words,” he said.

Matriculation Exams and IDF Draft Dates Adjusted

The summer matriculation exams, critical for high school students, will be pushed back one week, with the potential for a two-week delay depending on how the situation evolves.

If the emergency persists, the ministry is considering:

• Holding exams in protected spaces

• Relying on internal grades instead of national testing

Coordination is underway with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to ensure that draft dates can be adjusted, allowing students to complete their exams.

Special Education Activities Under Review

For special education students, the ministry is evaluating whether in-person learning can resume, depending on safety and logistical constraints.

The Home Front Command’s current directive is to minimize public activity, which limits not only transportation but also the possibility of in-person ceremonies.

As a result:

• Informal education programs are suspended

• Graduation parties and certificate ceremonies are currently prohibited

• Final decisions about end-of-year events will be made in the coming days

The Ministry of Education urges parents and students to stay updated through official channels as conditions evolve.