Teachers Union chief urges reforms as Israel faces growing educator shortage

By103FMAUGUST 24, 2026 20:57Teachers Union Secretary-General Yaffa Ben-David spoke on 103FM ahead of the start of the school year on Sunday, discussing the state of Israel’s education system and the growing shortage of teachers."According to our estimates, the system is currently short by nearly 5,000 teachers," Ben-David noted. "If we do not develop a strategic plan and continue to rely on slogans, we will see more people leaving the profession."She questioned, "Where will we find new teachers? First and foremost, we need to transform the education system into a place where people want to work."Ben-David noted that the teacher shortage reflects a broader global trend but urged that urgent attention is needed for Israel’s education system.Loss of 'a sense of mission' in teachers“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.”Yaffa Ben-David, head of the Teacher's Union at a conference of Channel 13 News company in Jerusalem on July 26, 2022. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)“If we do not address the deep-rooted problems, the situation will only worsen,” Ben-David warned.Ben-David also stressed the need to tackle issues such as violence, the special education law, and the support, trust, and authority granted to principals and teaching teams in the system.“Inclusion is a valuable, important, and moral objective, but the key is how we implement it.” She said.She also addressed the issue of special education, stating, “The solution is not simply to legislate a law, and this is the biggest mistake we have warned against. Whoever introduced the law only considered the immediate small issue, which cannot address something so substantial and important, and it caused the system to collapse.”The issue of ‘parental interference’ Ben-David also discussed the issue of ‘parental interference’ in education circles. “We issued a new, historic director-general's circular regarding the conduct between parents and education staff. Parents need to understand one thing: if you want quality educators to stay, you must give them the respect and treatment they deserve. They know what is best for the children.”“The lack of training, where untrained individuals were brought in to fill the shortage, is problematic in itself.” She said, turning back to the issue of staff shortages.“However, there are many excellent principals, kindergarten teachers, and educators who are trained and part of the system but receive disrespectful treatment from parents. Staff members' time is valuable, and just as every person has working hours and private time, so should teachers.”High school students take their mathematics matriculation examination (Bagrut), in at a high school in Rishon Lezion, on May 20, 2019. (credit: FLASH90)Regarding overcrowded classrooms and the burden placed on educators, she remarked, “This situation is not normal, and it has persisted because we have been warning about it for decades. We said there would be issues within the system in kindergartens and schools, and many dismissed our concerns.”“It is important to understand that salary is crucial, but on its own it will not resolve the teacher shortage. We need to provide fair salaries, status, and working conditions. Compared to OECD countries, we have many teaching hours in crowded classrooms and kindergartens. How can we expect better results? Teachers are not magicians,” according to Ben-David.“I have to ask, where are the parents? Where is their leadership? All day, your leadership only responds to what I say. Why don’t you, as the parents’ leadership, take a stand and advocate for reducing the number of students in kindergartens?” she criticized.'The Finance Ministry has no understanding of education'Regarding the need for a council to coordinate efforts within the education system, she stated, “I can identify the real and pressing issues in the education system, including the central problem that there is no strategic plan. I support establishing a national public council for the education system, which would include professors from academia, field professionals, and representatives from teachers’ organizations, to prepare a strategic plan that will not depend on one minister or another.”“I am committed to fighting for this cause, and it is essential to keep the public education system under state control. There are several systems that should remain with the state, and the education system is at the top of that list. We cannot shift responsibility onto someone else and replace one authority with another,” she added.“Since when has the Finance Ministry been the one determining education policy?” Ben-David questioned. “ Where have we ended up? Let them focus on the real problems facing the country. They have no understanding of education; it is a paradox.”“Since 2022, there has been an agreement, and personal contracts are not the solution to the teacher shortage. We need to address the real issues deeply, not seek cosmetic solutions,” she said.In closing, Ben-David encouraged education teams and students excited to start the school year to welcome everyone with love and dedication.Follow us on Google