Teachers’ union declares labor dispute and threatens strike over registration reform
Secondary school teachers on Monday threatened to strike over Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton’s planned reform of high school enrollment.
“There has never been a minister who has caused more harm to the education system than Shasha-Biton,” Secondary Teachers’ Union President Ran Erez said at a press conference announcing the dispute. working with the ministry, warning that teachers could soon force schools to close, even before the end of the current school year.
“We will soon start disrupting the functioning of schools,” he said. “One option is not to give grades to students at the end of the year. Additionally, there may be disruptions during graduation parties, travel, and more. If necessary, we will continue for two months,” he said.
Under Shasha-Biton’s planned reform, unveiled last month, some tests will be replaced with new ways of studying, working and assessing.
The changes will see written exams in history, literature, civics and biblical studies canceled and replaced by class projects and cross-curricular work marked internally by each school, alongside external assessment.
In each of these subjects, teachers will select projects from which students in grades 10 and 11 can choose. Work for matriculation, known as hollerwill include a range of new media and formats, with students preparing individual projects and oral presentations.
Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton speaks during a press conference on bagrut reform in Tel Aviv, April 26, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
Grade 12 enrollment projects must be assessed by an external examiner, with an overall final mark made up of the school’s own mark and that of the external assessment, in equal parts. The external note will be marked on a written work and a frontal presentation of the project.
Testing for maths, English, language and science subjects will continue as in the past, with written tests set externally.
Erez said Monday that the reform will hurt students and make them “ignorant.”
“We need to deepen our roots. We are not fighting reform because of money, but because it hurts students and makes certain subjects less important,” he said.
Registration exams can have a significant impact on a student’s future. Scores are a major criterion considered in applications to elite military units and academic institutions. the holler certificate is awarded to students who pass the required examinations with a mark of 56% or more in each field of study.
Students at Yehud Comprehensive High School take their Yehud Matriculation Exams on July 8, 2020. (Yossi Zeliger/ Flash90)
the bagruyot The reform is the latest in a series of systemic changes Shasha-Biton has led since her appointment as education minister in June 2021.
The National Council of Students and Youth criticized the union’s announcement, accusing Erez of hurting the students.
“Ran Erez once again believes that his threats to shut down the education system at the height of the enrollment period and graduation events will hurt the Ministry of Education and the reforms it promotes. But the truth is that every time he uses the same cards indiscriminately, he decides to harm the students,” said council leader Omer Shahar.
Monday’s teachers’ union announcement joins another ongoing labor dispute between the ministry and the Israel Teachers’ Union over a new pay deal with the state.
