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The new Minister of Education, Yoav Kish (Likud), announced on Thursday, January 5, the abolition of the reform concerning the passing of matriculation exams. These innovations were initiated and launched by his predecessor in office, Dr. Yifat Shasha-Biton.
According to Kish, it turned out that the implementation of reforms in practice faced serious difficulties, caused damage and led to the devaluation of many humanitarian subjects. Kish instructed the working groups of the Ministry of Education to work out and formulate alternative versions of pedagogical work in these subjects.
It should be noted that soon the former head of the Ministry of Education, Shasha-Biton (State Camp), sharply commented on the statement of Yoav Kish.
“Kish only found out a week ago about what portfolio he will receive, and is already destroying and destroying everything he can,” Shasha-Biton said. “The education system has just begun to emerge from the crisis, and now Kish is trying to crush this system and betray the future of our children The main thing for him is to do everything in spite of the former government."
Yoav Kish announced his intention to change the priorities of the Ministry of Education already at the inauguration ceremony in the presence of his predecessor.
Speaking on January 1, the new minister said that the Ministry of Education under his leadership "will go the other way."
"It's no secret that we have a completely different approach and different directions," Kish said, referring to Yifat Shashe-Biton.
- I intend to act decisively and achieve the cancellation of the decisions of the previous government to exclude the humanities, including the study of the Tanakh and history, from the curriculum for senior classes.
We will return these subjects, high school students will study them and take matriculation exams (bagrut)."
The implementation of the reform of the matriculation exams ( bagrut ) began less than six months ago , in April 2022, and received the support of university leaders, but caused outrage and protest from high school teachers.
As part of the reform, out-of-school examination boards were abolished when taking examinations in the humanities - literature, Tanakh, history and social science ( ezrahut ).
In addition, some other changes have been introduced. Vesti wrote in detail about the main provisions of the reform - read here .
A number of educators expressed the opinion at the time that the change in the examination system would eventually lead to the emergence of an empty and valueless society in Israel.