Comparison of 12 countries: education is decentralized, but teacher employment remains centralized

A report by the Knesset Research and Information Center, commissioned following the Finance Ministry's proposal to decentralize elementary education, compares 12 countries. It finds that in most countries education is decentralized, but teacher employment is centralized. In Israel, 76% of students study in public education, a relatively low rate, partly due to the Haredi education system.

A report by the Knesset Research and Information Center (KIC) examined the structure of education systems in 12 countries: the United States, Canada, France, Finland, Poland, Ireland, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and Sweden. The examination was conducted following the Finance Ministry's proposal to transfer responsibility for elementary schools and kindergartens to local authorities, and at the request of Knesset Education Committee Chairman MK Zvi Sukkot. The main finding: in most countries, the education system is decentralized, but the employment mechanism and the identity of employers are centralized, anchored in law and collective agreements. In Denmark, for example, local authorities employ early childhood, elementary, and middle school staff, while high school staff are employed by the schools themselves. In France, the model is more similar to Israel: teaching staff in public institutions are state employees, and their salaries are set by law. The report also compares the share of students in public education: in Israel, 76% study in public education, compared to 80%-90% in other countries. An exception is the Netherlands, with 30% or less, due to the historical operation of schools by churches. The explanation for the low rate in Israel is the Haredi education system, operated by private entities and partially funded by the state.