Teachers Union chief urges reforms as Israel faces growing educator shortage
Ahead of the school year, Teachers Union chief Yaffa Ben-David warned of a shortage of nearly 5,000 teachers and called for a strategic plan to address deep-rooted problems in education.
Teachers Union Secretary-General Yaffa Ben-David urged urgent reforms for Israel's education system as the country faces a growing educator shortage, speaking ahead of the start of the school year on 103FM. The system currently lacks nearly 5,000 teachers and Ben-David warned that without a strategic plan, more professionals will leave the profession.
She emphasized the need to transform education into a profession people want to work in, noting that the shortage reflects a broader global trend. Ben-David highlighted issues such as violence, the special education law, and support for principals and teaching teams, warning that failing to address deep-rooted problems will worsen the situation.
She also addressed the issue of parental interference, stating that parents need to respect educators' roles and that untrained individuals being brought in to fill teacher shortages is problematic. Ben-David urged that while salary is important, it alone cannot solve the shortage, and a fair salary, status, and working conditions are necessary.
Regarding overcrowded classrooms, she noted that the issue has persisted despite decades of warnings, suggesting that parents take a stand and reduce the number of students in kindergartens. She criticized the Finance Ministry for lacking understanding of education policy and called for a national public council to coordinate efforts within the education system, including academics, professionals, and teachers' organizations.
Ben-David stressed that the education system should remain under state control and that cosmetic solutions are not the answer to the teacher shortage.
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