will ensure that our children receive extra lessons in Zionism, Jewish values, trips to Hebron and lessons on how to tend the graves of fallen Independence War fighters. Bagrut shmurut - welcome to 21st Century Israel

Israel can't allow its children to become dimwits. More money has to be invested in education. It's the Jewish peoples' greatest weapon.

but we surery hold the 1st place in halaktik and Judaism studies - in this category we are second to none!

focus on teaching students to think and teach them how to learn and study too! and watch how the numbers will go up.

it might improve the performance of scientific studies

Torah and Talmud studies do have a great effect on learning. I remember a fellow who spent all his time studying Talmud and then when his mum told him he had to go to law school, he breezed through it at an unreal pace.

There is a lot of logic in the American system where education in lower grades focuses on developing the person as member of a Nation. It teaches what it means to be a good Citizen, how to get along, how to be a valuable member of a society. And also, how to have fun in life along with responsibilities. Math and Science come a little later and reach full speed at the academic level. This develops in Americans love for their country as befitting united people, and convinces them to stay there. In industry, there is no country that comes close to what the U.S. has achieved. Isn't this what Israel wants? Educational excellence will assure Israeli success in the future and teaching practical subjects is a must. Teaching Tanah could be made part of History subjects and of literature, important for spirituality.

Religious studies have no future and use whatsoever in 21st century. Modern societies have proven to be so by outlawing religion classes. Really, like why do I need to know what the Torah says? The only thing the Torah teaches is violence and war. Teach children to say please, thank you or to use polite speech form before teaching them colonialist ideology

After a quarter of a century I just left teaching -the level is not good mostly due to terrible curriculums, bad systems, matrics-yes bad- and crowded classrooms-40-45 is not that unusual...I couldnt take it anymore. Bad principals, bad all the way up IMO

It's not so much religious studies you're after, but rather the terrific study habits they develop in the individual. They can be a means to an end.

to have dropped that much in so short a time shows where crony capitalism is taking Israel and the US

not suffient. Children must also be taught math and science. Many haredi children are not educated much beyond the 6th grade. I believe it was rebbe Yosef who stated that secular education corrupts kids. This attitude needs to change and change fast, or Israel will,continue to,decline in the rankings. Long term this attitude adversely affects Israel's ability to defend itself.

they think of our Gemara. The only things the Tora teaches is violence and war? Sounds like you don t know what you are talking about. Most humane rules that the civilised world knows,comes from the Tora.

is a must.

But If you want a job, if want to create start ups and jobs, you need the science subjects! We see to what the orhtodox/ultraOrhtodox schools are leading, to poverty, unemployment and dependence! And in Israel it leads to dodging the draft too! Nice way to keep your kids chanceless, what a shame!

Ora has repeatedly called for secular education alongside religious. If you have not read a person's previous thoughts on a matter, it is best not to make strawman arguments and read further into what a person's saying beyond what they've actually said.

of the rooms they smoke in and swill coffee. Stop making musical productions out of each holiday. Teach the kids about the holiday and forget the songs and dances. Keep the parents out of the schools and make sure they do not interfere with the curriculum. Stop with all the silly trips, except once to Jerusalem. Finally make sure that students that have psychological problems or take meds for learning problems are sent to schools that can help them, but not their neighborhood schools. They disrupt the classes and the teachers.

Some results refer to primary schools, others do not. Pre-Barmitzvah Haredi pupils should be doing science and maths, the same as all other Israeli pupils. Are there figures for each sector? Israeli Arabs, mainstream Jews, Haredim? For maths and science, even bilingual pupils should manage, whereas for English, bilingual pupils would be possibly weaker.

So what needs to be done to change the haredi culture so it embraces science and math education as well as Torah?

Gideon Saar deserves a medal for the achievement as well as Bibi who continues to feed the parasites at the yeshivas, while people can hardly buy bread. Shame and disgraceful, almost 1 billion shekels are transferred to them every year, that is miss use of public funds!

Jeez guys, I wish our country had your problems. Israeli education is the envy of the world. There is a legend hat before the Brits invaded us, long long ago, a group of Jews arrived in Ireland to ask the High King for permission to stay, and this was rejected. Any way we can have another chance? World needs Jews and their thirst for practical knowledge!

This is all a good thing for the Education Ministry - whose aim seems to be to lower the cost of education for parents - never mind the quality- look at the price.

learn both.This trend is increasing. Anyway,the wheel is turning.We see Orthodox youth joining the modern world. Remember,Israeli pioneers are children from orthodox families. The opposite is true too. Children from secular families who lack spirituality enter in religion. I am all for Tora and Science.

The songs, dances and trips are a good thing. They make the student feel happy and help them learn. When people have fun they learn better.

I thought research at BGU showed that students who grow up bilingual learn English and other languages better.

If you look, you will see that Israel invests far too much in education. The problem is that the corrupt union takes all the money and gives it to the laziest and greediest teachers and activists, but silences any teacher who cares. Like everything in Israel, the problem is corrupt socialists.