Education Ministry announces mandatory financial education classes for ninth, tenth grades
The curriculum was designed to combine economic knowledge, behavioral psychology, and life skill development.
The Education Ministry has announced that financial education classes will become mandatory for ninth and tenth grade students starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. Approximately 550 teachers have already been trained, with an additional 750 expected to commence training in early September. In October, around 1,300 teachers will undergo a comprehensive 60-hour training program specifically for ninth-grade educators. Further training sessions will become available in early 2027 for tenth-grade teachers.
The curriculum aims to blend economic knowledge, behavioral psychology, and life skill development, divided into four main areas: responsible consumer behavior and financial decision-making; money and banking; the labor market in a changing world; and investments, opportunities, and risks. The first module for ninth-graders will focus on factors influencing economic decisions, distinguishing needs from wants, understanding marketing tactics and social pressure, and employing tools for making responsible choices.
The money and banking module for ninth-graders will cover fundamental concepts such as the nature of money, economic principles like supply and demand, inflation, cost of living, and the evolution of payment methods, both traditional and digital. The labor market in a changing world module for ninth-graders will introduce students to the rights of working teenagers and the basics of entering the workforce.
The investments, opportunities, and risks module for ninth-graders will introduce basic financial concepts like interest, various forms of savings, insurance, and risk management. In tenth grade, the curriculum will delve into setting personal objectives, budget planning, making financial decisions to achieve short and long-term goals, adapting to technological advancements, future career paths, required skills, and interpreting pay slips.
Students will also learn about diverse investment avenues including the capital market, real estate, human capital, and foreign currency, while understanding risk-return relationships and the importance of diversification in financial decision-making. Education Minister Yoav Kisch, who spearheaded the program, welcomed the initiative, emphasizing its significance in equipping the next generation with practical financial tools to navigate life's challenges.
"This is an important and welcome step in preparing the next generation to face the challenges of the world outside," Kisch stated. "Throughout the process, I believed that the education system must provide knowledge and skills that will enable young people to successfully cope with life’s challenges. I am proud to lead this revolution and provide every student in Israel with a practical financial toolkit that will serve them throughout their lives."
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