Surfing the Tsunami Demography and Education in Israel

Key Findings:

The central premise of this essay is the paramount importance of education in the preservation and progress of the Jewish people. The Jewish community's cohesion and vitality have historically relied on the written word and the transmission of knowledge.

The author highlights Israel's early emphasis and historical commitment to education, particularly during its formative years. Accumulation and transmission of knowledge were pivotal not only for the survival but also for the flourishing of the Jewish people. This is exemplified by the establishment of seven major research universities in Israel by the early 1970s.

However, the point of divergence from this came with the 1973 Yom Kippur War and a subsequent national shift in priorities. This transformation had little to do with external factors, such as Israel's neighbors, but was primarily a result of a domestic pivot towards populism. Sectoral and personal interests began to eclipse national ones, which is argued to have set Israel on a trajectory with serious long-term consequences.

To underscore the contemporary educational landscape, the text presents significant statistics:

Education Rankings: While Israel ranks highly in terms of the average number of school years per person (third worldwide) and the share of people with academic degrees (fourth worldwide), the quality of education in core subjects is alarmingly low. This deficiency is revealed through data from the OECD PISA exam, which evaluates the abilities of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics, and science. Israel's performance in these critical areas ranks among the lowest in the developed world.

High-Tech Sector: Despite having what appears to be a sufficient supply of graduates on paper, Israel's high-tech sector faces a severe shortage of qualified personnel. This incongruity between the number of graduates and the demands of the high-tech industry underscores the dire state of education.

Labor Productivity: Neglect of Israel's physical and human capital infrastructures has caused a decline in labor productivity, measured as output per hour worked. Israel's productivity, which had been rapidly approaching that of leading developed nations until the early 1970s, has since diverged dramatically. The gap between Israel's GDP per hour worked and that of the G7 countries has tripled since the mid-1970s.

University Faculty: A decline of over 50 percent in the number of research university faculty per capita since 1973 has had significant repercussions, particularly for the quality of higher education and research in Israel.

Demographics: In 2020, 22 percent of first-graders in Israel were Arab-Israelis, whose academic performance in math, science, and reading was lower than that of nine out of ten predominantly Muslim countries that participated in the PISA exam. Additionally, 21 percent of first-graders were Haredi, a population often receiving subpar education. Projections indicate that the Haredi population will continue to grow significantly, reaching approximately half of Israel's children by 2065.

These educational challenges not only impact domestic politics, but also strain relations with liberal societies and erode the connection between Israel and the global Jewish community. Moreover, the economic aspect is seen in growing income inequality and increased tax burden on a smaller segment of the population.

Addressing these educational issues is essential for Israel's future. The author calls for comprehensive reforms backed by statistics, such as a uniform and upgraded national core curriculum, improved teacher quality, and decentralization of the public education system. Resolving these issues is not merely an option, but a necessity for safeguarding Israel's future prosperity and its standing in the world.