More English teachers (Illustration)
Photo: API
Israel to import English teachers
As solution to decrease in number of teachers certified to teach English, Ministry of Education plans to encourage immigration of Jewish teachers from abroad
To combat the huge shortage of English teachers in schools, the Ministry of Education is outlining a plan to enlist Jewish teachers from English-speaking nations.
The ministry plans to tempt teachers to immigrate to Israel by promising them work and benefits in the educational system. Education Ministry Director-General Shmuel Abuav said that in response to a shortage of over 300 English teachers, the ministry appealed to the Jewish Agency in order to create a joint plan to locate teachers in English-speaking countries, especially the United States.
According to Abuav, there are currently almost 250 English teachers that have a teacher's certificate, but are not certified to teach English. The shortage has been a problem for years and, thus, the ministry has been forced to compromise and let these teachers teach English.
Abuav says that the high-tech industry is the main competitor for English speakers, many of whom prefer to utilize their language skills in hi-tech companies, for example as translators.
"English teachers are highly prized in the hi-tech industry and receive excellent conditions and benefits," he explained.
Additionally, many of the English teachers in the school system were immigrants from English-speaking countries who came to Israel after the Six-Day War and, as such, have recently retired in large numbers.
Teacher Immigration
Abuav states that a plan for wide enlistment of English teachers from abroad and instructional certification of English speakers in Israel is necessary, both due to the teacher shortage and due to Education Minister Prof. Yuli Tamir's instruction that an emphasis be put on English in the Israeli school system, with a minimum of four (out of a possible five) units needed on the qualifying exams in English in order to receive a high school diploma.
In order to convince English teachers to immigrate or to convince English speakers to join the teachers corps, the Ministry of Education intends to subsidize the certification process, guarantee jobs, and provide financial incentives to teachers, including involvement with rent for those teaching in peripheral regions, where the shortage is most prevalent. These benefits constitute a 70 to 80 percent increase in the regular salary.
Experts agree
Prof. Yair Caro, President of Oranim Academic College, which also certifies teachers to teach English, agrees that there is a grave shortage of English teachers in the educational system. This consequently lowers the standard of English teaching in Israel.
"In the rest of the world, English is defined as an important academic branch, requiring special certification beyond regular pedagogical qualification," he said. "This shortage has been going on for years and English certification provides only a partial solution to the problem."
Education Ministry officials said that the large number of students who are forced to hire tutors in order to pass their qualifying exams merely emphasizes the problem.
