Teachers Union chief urges reforms as Israel faces growing educator shortage

Israel's education system is grappling with a severe teacher shortage, with nearly 5,000 educators needed as the new school year commences. Yaffa Ben-David, Secretary-General of the Teachers Union, highlighted the urgency, stating that without a strategic plan, the situation will worsen and lead to more teachers leaving the profession.

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According to our estimates, the system is currently short by nearly 5,000 teachers. If we do not develop a strategic plan and continue to rely on slogans, we will see more people leaving the profession.

Ben-David emphasized that transforming the education system into an attractive workplace is crucial for attracting new teachers. She noted that while teacher shortages are a global trend, Israel requires immediate attention. The union leader expressed concern over the loss of the "sense of mission" among educators, a phenomenon observed across various countries, and stressed that education is fundamental to the state's future, necessitating the involvement of the best and most qualified individuals.

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Where will we find new teachers? First and foremost, we need to transform the education system into a place where people want to work.

Beyond staffing, Ben-David pointed to other deep-rooted problems affecting the system. These include tackling violence, properly implementing the special education law, and ensuring adequate support, trust, and authority for principals and teaching teams. She criticized the special education law, warning that its legislative approach focused on immediate issues without addressing substantial needs, leading to system collapse.

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In the past, people joined the teaching profession out of a sense of mission and trained to be educators. Today, however, it’s different, and this issue is widespread. You can see it in almost every country. It’s not just in teaching, but across various workplaces. Education is the heart of the State of Israel, and we need to direct our best and most qualified individuals to it.

Furthermore, the union addressed the growing issue of "parental interference." A new directive aims to regulate interactions between parents and education staff, emphasizing the need for respect towards educators. Ben-David stated that parents must understand that retaining quality teachers requires treating them with the respect they deserve, as they are best equipped to know what is best for the children. The influx of untrained individuals to fill the shortage was also flagged as problematic, compounded by instances of disrespectful treatment from parents towards trained staff.

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If we do not address the deep-rooted problems, the situation will only worsen.