Education Ministry: More students taking advanced math in 2017
Minister Bennett boasts projected results of national effort to strengthen math studies around the country, particularly in the periphery; 'I've seen how the math revolution has affected all other areas, including biology and physics, as well non-scientific fields,' he says.
More Israeli students are expected to take the advanced mathematics matriculation exam in 2017, according to projections presented by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday.
According to ministry, 4,000 students more will take the highest level high school math test than did in 2016.
The prediction comes amid a national push by the Ministry of Education to strengthen math studies with the declared goal of doubling the number of students taking advanced math within the next five years.
According to the ministry, the current projection reflect quite an achievement, actually surpassing the goal set for this year—an increase of 2,500 students.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett set math studies as one of his ministry's main goals. Bennett stated that he also intends to double the number of advanced math teachers within the next four years, from 1,000 teachers to 2,000.
The program also includes the minister's commitment to adding 15,000 math tutoring hours over the years, and for the first time, small classes with only six students will be opened as well.
"I have been all over the country and witnessed the way in which the math revolution has affected all other areas, including biology and physics, as well non-scientific fields. We broke the glass ceiling. We didn't choose math arbitrarily; not only is it an important tool for the future, but an actual phobia has surrounded the subject with the notion that this could never be done, yet we proved them wrong," said Bennett at a press conference.
In the past two years, the ministry's report stated, around 160 new advanced math classes have opened around the country, especially in periphery high schools, with emphasis on the Arab, Bedouin and ultra-Orthodox sectors.
The ministry stated that the national program was given a special budget of approximately 2,000 additional study hours specifically tailored for reinforcements and small study groups.
