Numbers that cannot be ignored: the problem of Israel's education system compared to the world

An OECD report reveals a complex picture: despite high investment in education (4th in the OECD) and a high percentage of academics, Israel suffers from severe classroom overcrowding (32% above average), few school days, teacher salaries 9% lower, and a high dropout rate among teachers in their early years.

The OECD report for 2024-2025 presents a complex picture of Israel's education system. On the positive side, Israel is one of only four developed countries where compulsory education begins at age 3, and the participation rate of toddlers up to age 2 in learning (50.8%) is among the highest in the OECD. The percentage of higher education graduates in Israel (51.2%) is significantly higher than the average (42.6%), and education spending, at 7.4% of GDP, ranks Israel fourth in the developed world. However, the negative data is concerning: overcrowding in elementary and middle school classrooms is about 32% above the average, with 27.2 students per elementary class compared to 20.6 on average. The number of teaching days in Israel is among the lowest in the OECD, and teacher salaries are 9% lower in elementary and middle school compared to the average. The dropout rate of teachers in the first five years ranges from 73% to 86%, placing Israel third in the percentage of teachers leaving elementary education.