Education Minister Yoav Kish Launches Science Reform Amid Declining International Test Scores

 In the wake of Israel’s sharp decline in international science and math assessments, Education Minister Yoav Kish has announced a new national plan to strengthen science education in schools. Branded as a “realistic Israeli reform,” the initiative aims to reverse the downward trajectory that saw Israeli students fall to 24th place out of 44 countries in the most recent TIMSS science test — a drop of 16 places in just one year.

While the plan includes expanded learning hours and new student groups in science-related subjects, it does not currently include any updates to the national science curricula — which many educators argue are outdated and out of sync with international standards, such as PISA and TIMSS.

Core Weaknesses Remain Untouched

Despite Kish's ambitious rhetoric, the plan does not address the core problems undermining science education: outdated curricula and a critical shortage of qualified science and math teachers. Schools across Israel are already struggling to staff core science subjects, with many relying on unqualified teachers or canceling programs entirely.

Education experts warn that without updated content and a massive teacher recruitment effort, the reform's stated goal of catapulting Israel into the top ten in science education globally is unlikely to materialize.

Plan Details and Budget Uncertainty

The Ministry of Education estimates the plan's cost at NIS 500 million, to be allocated gradually. However, no confirmation has been received from the Ministry of Finance regarding funding beyond the initial stages.

The initiative will primarily focus on middle schools, incorporating elements from pre-existing programs such as:

• "Excellent Classrooms" – expanded by the previous “Government of Change”

• "High-tech in Kindergartens and Schools" – another legacy of the prior administration

Key Components of the Reform

• Two additional weekly hours in science and math for seventh-grade students

• 190 new student groups in peripheral areas, aimed at boosting learning in math, computer science, and physics

• Continued development of “scientific reserve” excellent classes

• Teacher training programs to integrate artificial intelligence in classroom instruction

• Early science exposure for kindergarten and elementary students through hands-on experiments and AI tools

• Expansion of high school excellent classes, particularly in the periphery, focusing on five-unit tracks in math, physics, and computer science

• Support for local authorities in implementing the program

The current initiative draws heavily on the Perlmutter Committee’s recommendations, which aimed to increase human capital in Israel’s high-tech sector by boosting the number of students completing five-unit tracks in computer science, math, physics, and English. These recommendations were approved by the previous government and reaffirmed by Kish’s administration.

International Performance in Steep Decline

The 2023 TIMSS results, published in December, marked a historic low for Israel in science and math performance. It was the first time since 2007 that Israel dropped to the average performance tier, with Israeli students scoring below most developed countries. Among OECD nations, Israel saw the sharpest decline in science and math outcomes.

As Minister Kish simultaneously promotes increased Bible and Judaism instruction as part of his broader education policy, critics question whether the new science plan — without addressing its foundational issues — will be enough to prevent a further slide in global rankings.