School exam results show marked improvements
Education minister presents statistics illustrating significant improvements among 5th graders in exam results in mathematics, English and Arabic over the last year; disparity between Arabs and Jews narrowing, but still remains; Bennett: 'There is still a long way to go.’
According to the statistics, presented by Education Minister Naftali Bennett, significant progress was recorded among students in 5th grade (age 10-11) with average grades in English leaping from 524 to 542. Impressive advances were also made in mathematics and Arabic, with averages jumping from 545 to 554 and from 560 to 573 respectively.
Among 5th graders, the average results scored remained by and large the same in Hebrew at 537 points.
The figures also reflect conspicuous improvements among 8th graders in Hebrew (540-558), Arabic (518-539) and science and technology (552-564). Grade obtained in mathematics and English however, have remained stagnant among the 8th graders.
Despite wide gaps remaining between the two communities, the improvements have taken place both in the Jewish and Arab sectors. For example, the average marks registered among Jewish 8th grade students stands at 496 points compared to the Arab equivalent grade which stands at 455 points.
Speaking at a press conference, Bennett reflected on the achievements of his ministry. “My vision is for every student in Israel to have equal opportunity, whether he was born in Ramat Hasharon, Ofakim, Rahat or Bnei Brak,” he said. “There is still a long way to go but we have taken the first step. The exam results for 2015-2016 demonstrate a significant narrowing of the gap. The significant rise in achievements of the students from weaker backgrounds shows that we are closing the gaps—strengthening the underprivileged without weakening the strong.”
Despite the notable increases in scores attained by children from poorer economic backgrounds, they still fall short of the results achieved by those from the opposite end of the economic spectrum.
Moreover, for the first time students from religious schools performed marginally better in their exams than those in state schools. Indeed, religious schools reported an average increase among 5th graders in mathematics of 12 points reaching a total of 567. State schools, on the other hand, reached a total of 656 points, marking an increase of just 4 points.
Similarly, religious school students sprung by 6 points to reach 540 in Hebrew while state school students checked out of the academic year with a decrease of two points taking their average score to 536.
For many years, the education ministry has refused to publish academic performance results due to fear of the potentially devastating social and professional consequences stemming from comparisons between results achieved at different schools and by those hailing from stronger and weaker economic backgrounds. The statistics only began being published again in 2012 when an appeal was made before the High Court of Justice.
