12th grade has exhausted itself: It's time to think differently

An opinion column by Liora Minka, an educator, proposing to reexamine the 12th grade model and turn it into a state-run preparatory year for all students, in light of the high demand for pre-military preparatory programs, which stands at about 6,300 accepted out of approximately 70,000 relevant high school graduates per year.

Liora Minka, an educator and former chairwoman of the 'Emunah' movement, argues in an opinion column that the 12th grade has exhausted itself and should be turned into a state-run preparatory year for all students. Minka points to the huge gap between the demand for pre-military preparatory programs and their limited capacity: out of about 70,000 relevant high school graduates per year (after subtracting the Arab and ultra-Orthodox sectors), only about 6,300 are accepted. Demand has risen by about 50% since the start of the war. The preparatory programs, built as a small and selective model to create leadership groups, cannot provide a mass response. Minka proposes canceling the 12th grade and turning it into a year of preparation for adult life and military or national service, while making the preparatory model available to all. She acknowledges that existing preparatory programs will lose their uniqueness, but argues they could redefine their role as advanced leadership tracks. The column raises questions about the state's role in shaping civic identity, the relationship between education and the military, and equal opportunity.