Education in Israel a Mixed Bag for Nation’s Children

Despite the issues with poverty throughout Israel, the country remains fairly well-educated. However, there is still plenty of room for improvement, and many children are left behind in primary schools due to their turbulent home lives.

The school system in Israel is set up very similarly to the United States. Primary education covers grades 1 through 6 (ages 6 through 12), middle school covers grades 7 through 9 (ages 12 to 15), and high school covers grades 10 through 12 (ages 15 through 18). Education is compulsory for all children from kindergarten through 12th grade, and the school year runs from September 1 to the end of June.

Israel has achieved relative success with its literacy rate, as 97.8 percent of the people in Israel are able to read and write, including 98.7 percent of men and 96.8 percent of women. While this places Israel well over the global average of 86.3 percent (90 percent for men, 82.7 percent for women), it also puts Israel under the average literacy rate for developed nations, at 99.2 percent. Clearly, there is still work to be done for Israel to measure up to its OECD (the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) peers.

The biggest barrier to Israel achieving even greater educational success is due to high levels of poverty. Israel consistently ranks among the top nations for highest poverty ratings among all developed nations. Poverty disrupts the home life, and children are often left to fend for themselves. When they do not have a safe or stable life outside of school, it becomes significantly more difficult for them to find success in their studies.

Curt Landry Ministries is proud to support safe houses throughout Jerusalem, which provide children with a positive, safe environment in which they can learn and grow. These safe houses are changing lives on a daily basis, helping children to realize their full potential and escape the harsh realities of their home lives.

For more information about how you can support these safe houses and give Israeli children a better chance at receiving a good education, contact us today at Curt Landry Ministries.