Yoav Kisch announced Wednesday evening that kindergartens and elementary schools across Israel will continue operating through the end of July as part of an expanded summer education initiative launched in response to the impact of the war on students and families.
Under the plan, participation for both teachers and students will remain voluntary.
The announcement was made during a joint press conference held by Kisch alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who presented the government’s educational framework for the upcoming summer vacation.
FOCUS ON LEARNING GAPS
According to the Education Ministry, the summer program will focus on narrowing academic gaps created during the war, providing emotional support for students, and introducing innovative learning programs in artificial intelligence.
“The program will focus on reducing educational disparities, emotional assistance, and innovative AI-based educational initiatives,” Kisch said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized the importance of preparing Israeli students for a rapidly changing technological future.
“We want Israel’s students to become the best at ChatGPT and Claude even before their matriculation exams,” Netanyahu said, referring to leading artificial intelligence platforms. “At the same time, we will help students close the learning gaps accumulated during the war.”
SMALL GROUP LEARNING MODEL
Kisch explained that the initiative will rely primarily on existing teaching staff, with classes operating in groups of up to 15 students to provide more personalized instruction.
Government officials said the small-group model is intended to improve learning effectiveness while also offering students social and emotional stability after months of security disruptions.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING APPROVED
Finance Minister Smotrich announced that the Ministry of Finance will allocate an additional 600 million shekels to the initiative, supplementing 450 million shekels already included in the state budget.
According to Smotrich, the expanded program is designed not only to support students academically, but also to help parents return to regular employment after what he described as “a highly complex year.”
“The program will allow parents to return to work while promoting effective learning in core subjects,” Smotrich said. “High-quality teachers receiving higher salaries will lead the initiative.”
He added that artificial intelligence is expected to fundamentally reshape both education and broader society in the coming years.
PART OF BROADER RECOVERY EFFORT
The summer education initiative is part of a wider government effort aimed at stabilizing civilian life and restoring educational continuity following prolonged wartime disruptions.
Officials say the extended programs are expected to operate nationwide, with special emphasis on communities affected by evacuations, reserve mobilization, and repeated security incidents during the conflict.
The decision to extend educational frameworks through July reflects growing recognition within the Israeli government of the long-term educational and emotional effects of the war on children and families.
By combining academic reinforcement, emotional support, and advanced technological training, the government hopes to accelerate recovery within the education system while preparing students for a more digital and AI-driven future.
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