When do children go to school in Israel? Features of the Israeli education system and training in Israel for foreigners and repatriates

Compulsory Education Law

The public school system in Israel includes 6 years of primary school, 3 years of intermediate school and 3 years of tertiary school. In Hebrew, the third level school is called Tikhon. In some schools, the last two levels are combined and we can talk about 6 years of study in primary school and 6 years in high school.

Israel has a law requiring free education for all children between the ages of 5 and 16. For those over 16 years of age, schooling remains free, but is not compulsory. Not only is school attendance compulsory and free, but also attendance at the senior group of kindergarten.

Academic year, holidays

The school year begins on September 1 and ends on June 30 in elementary school and June 20 in grades 7-12. All holidays, except summer, are timed to coincide with religious holidays and are established according to the Jewish calendar. Schoolchildren are off school for about 3 weeks during the Easter holidays (April), a week during Sukkot (September-October) and a week during Hanukkah (December).

Start of classes
Children of new repatriates begin attending school immediately after arrival. At school, additional classes are organized for them in which they study Hebrew and those subjects the acquisition of which depends on knowledge of the language (for example, literature, TANAKH, etc.) In schools where many repatriates study, special adaptation classes are often organized. Repatriates take subjects such as mathematics, physics, and English in regular classes. In some cities, children starting from the age of 12 are sent to a special ulpan for schoolchildren.

Types of schools

• Public Schools

More than 70% of all children in the country study there; education in them is conducted according to programs developed by the Ministry of Education.

• State religious schools

They educate approximately 25% of children and are also subordinate to the Ministry of Education and conduct classes according to its programs, but religious subjects are studied here on a wider scale.

• Orthodox religious schools of the independent education system

Less than 5% of children study there. The curriculum of these schools differs significantly from that recommended by the Ministry - religious subjects are studied in large quantities at the expense of general education ones. Girls and boys study separately from first grade.

• Schools of Arts, Science, Technology

In the Israeli education system there are schools (usually from grades 7 to 12) with various specializations - schools of arts, science, technology - the program of which is broader than that provided by the Ministry of Education. In these schools, parents partially pay the tuition fees.

• Private schools

In addition to these types of schools, there are also private schools recognized by the Ministry of Education. These schools generally adhere to the ministry's programs, but usually have their own teaching methods and study some subjects in an expanded scope. There are few such schools, and tuition in them is paid.

Enrollment in schools

• Enrollment in schools is the responsibility of the education departments of municipalities or local councils. There you can also get complete information about schools in a given city or region.
• Children who turn 6 years old before a certain date at the end of December are admitted to first grade (the exact date is set each year according to the Hebrew calendar).
• You can enroll your child in primary and intermediate schools only at your place of residence. The exception is the so-called. "Interdistrict" schools - as a rule, these are schools with different specializations or schools in which children study using special methods.
• To enroll in quiet (grades 10-12), all students at the end of the 8th grade undergo a psychotest, the purpose of which is to determine the level of mental abilities and level of knowledge in English and mathematics. The test evaluation sheet also contains recommendations from the psychologist regarding further training. The decision on enrollment is made by schools based on the student’s academic performance and psychotest results. Children of repatriates from the CIS countries can take the psychotest in Russian.
• Upon arrival, repatriated schoolchildren are usually assigned to classes appropriate for their age. However, high school students may be asked to start studying a grade lower in order to have time to prepare for the final matriculation exams.

Primary School

• In grades 1-6 of public schools, classes last from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., in state religious schools – until 2 p.m. In recent years, some primary schools have introduced an extended school day (up to 2-3 pm).
• In elementary school, children learn: Hebrew (reading, writing, grammar, speech development), mathematics, TANAKH, history, geography, natural history, English. Music classes, labor lessons, drawing, rhythmics and physical education are also provided.
• The program in the lower grades is structured in such a way that the educational material is covered almost entirely in the classroom, and children are given almost no homework. The emphasis is not on ensuring that children remember as much information as possible, but on teaching them, already in the elementary grades, to think independently, analyze, and compare facts.

Intermediate school

• Grades 7-9 are an intermediate link between primary and secondary school. The intermediate school prepares students for new forms of learning and the much higher demands of high school.
• Due to the fact that children with different academic performance and unequal abilities study in the same class, teaching is carried out at different levels in a number of subjects, for example, mathematics. For this purpose, classes are divided into two or three groups.

Third level school - TIKHON

• An Israeli third-level school provides the opportunity to choose the direction and level of study. The program includes subjects that are compulsory for all students, as well as additional ones that are studied electively.
• There are several types of Tikhons:
• Academic– general education schools of a wide profile. Education ends with passing state matriculation exams.
• Professional– schools in which students, along with studying general education subjects, acquire a specialty. Graduates can take matriculation exams or receive a certificate of completion of 12 grades. In addition, they receive a professional certificate giving them the right to work in their specialty. A number of these schools have grades 13 and 14 that train technicians and junior engineers, and in some you can continue your studies until you receive your first academic degree.
• Universal– schools that have both academic and vocational classes.

Certificate of maturity

• To obtain an Israeli matriculation certificate, you must pass state exams in 7 compulsory subjects and several elective subjects. Exams are taken in writing and are scored on a 100-point system. The matriculation certificate is given a grade that is the average between the one obtained in the exam and the school year.
• New repatriates, for 4 years after arrival, enjoy benefits when taking matriculation exams: they take humanitarian subjects according to a simplified program, and all others either written in their native language or orally in Hebrew. In those schools where two foreign languages ​​are studied, the repatriated student has the right to take an exam in his native language instead of a second foreign language.

Funding and expenses for parents

The educational process in Israeli schools is financed from the state budget. The Ministry of Education is in charge of distributing funds to schools. The operation of school buildings is paid for by the city administration or local councils.

Parents purchase textbooks, notebooks, sports uniforms, supplies for labor lessons, drawing, and music themselves. In addition, the school obliges parents to pay for excursions, visits to theaters and cinema, cultural events, various extracurricular activities, personal insurance for the child, etc.

The Ministry of Education publishes each year the maximum allowable amount that can be charged to parents. According to the rules, it is prohibited to exclude a child from classes or participation in excursions due to problems with payments. A parent committee, which is found in every Israeli school, monitors the correct amounts charged by the school and ensures that the funds are used for their intended purpose.

Families of new repatriates, as well as large and low-income families, are provided with financial assistance in paying for school expenses.

Consulting psychological service
Municipalities and local councils operate psychological counseling services. Consultants of this service help parents in choosing a suitable educational institution depending on the child’s inclinations or problems. Each school has a pedagogical psychologist who conducts consultations with students and parents.

School student councils
In Israeli schools, starting from the 4th grade, each class elects representatives to the school student council, which, together with the team of teachers, participates in decision-making on many school issues.

The program is fully funded by the State of Israel and the Jewish Agency Sokhnut.

Like most other areas of life, education in Israel has its own specifics. For a visitor, many of its features may seem wild. But the industry should be judged by its results, and they obviously impress even critics.

The Israeli educational experience can be called unique. Currently, the state’s achievements in this area are highly valued at the international level. Therefore, we can assume that studying in this country will bring tangible results if you come to terms with many nuances. What is the peculiarity of the educational system?

The first thing that may shock Russian mothers is that children begin studying in Israel at a very young age. Literally three months after birth, the baby is already in kindergarten. This is explained by the minimum maternity leave: it is paid for a period of up to 14 weeks, plus you can take another 12 weeks, but here the parent will not receive payment.

There are private kindergartens, which cost less to pay than the labor of a nanny. There are also institutions where you can receive subsidies from the state. Here, each family pays according to its capabilities, but the number of places for little children is limited.

Although most Israelis send their children to kindergarten in the first months of life, enrollment in a group that prepares the child for school is required by law. This is the age of 5-6 years, when children are already taught to count, write, and read. A distinctive feature of the system is that in Israel children are raised exclusively with affection and love, and they prefer not to resort to punishment.

Schooling under Israeli laws

There are also some peculiarities in the further education of the child. School education in Israel lasts for 12 years. However, mastering the program between the ages of 6 and 16 is considered mandatory, as state educational laws indicate. Then the child decides for himself whether to continue his studies or not.

The specifics of the Jewish calendar determine the timing of school holidays. Here they are tied to the holidays of Passover, Sukkot, and Hanukkah. Therefore, traditionally children rest for about three weeks in April, seven days in the fall and another week in December.

The initial stage of education starts for a child at six years old, according to state laws. Here he masters grammar and writing, mathematics and history, music and drawing. Children are usually at school from eight in the morning until one in the afternoon. Moreover, they are not given anything to take home.

The intermediate stage begins at the age of 12. Here the requirements for students are higher, but individual characteristics are also taken into account. Children are divided into several groups, depending on their performance.

The third stage, called Tikhon, lasts from 15 to 18 years. Children are given the right to choose the direction of their studies and the level of mastery of the program. There are both compulsory subjects and professional courses. Some schools offer to study for two more years after the 12th grade in order to obtain a specific specialty.

Israeli universities and different levels of study

Analyzing higher education in Israel, one cannot help but notice its heterogeneous, developed structure. There are educational institutions of different levels and specializations here. As a result, training is available to almost all segments of the population.

One of the options for continuing your studies after school is going to college. It can be academic and pedagogical, engineering and economic. But the distinctive feature is that here they receive specific knowledge that can be applied in practice.

The higher education system here is organized according to a widely accepted principle. It is divided into three levels:

• bachelor's degree;
• master's degree;
• doctoral studies

Depending on the direction, the student receives a bachelor's degree after 3-5 years of study. Next, two to three years should be spent obtaining a master's degree. After passing the thesis and exams, you can continue your studies in doctoral studies. The study lasts another two to four years, and ends with the defense of a dissertation and the implementation of a research project.

Eight universities in the state are ready to provide conditions for obtaining all three degrees. But many colleges have the right to graduate bachelors.

What is important for migrants to know about Israeli education?

If immigrants from Russia are planning to move to Israel, they will have to prepare for certain difficulties. For example, a Russian certificate of secondary education or a vocational school diploma will not be accepted here. For such migrants, studying at one of the preparatory university programs is mandatory. They are also called “mechins”.

Such courses are designed to master basic subjects, after which the visitor can study a specific specialty. Based on the results of the test, you need to pass a psychometric test. Migrants will also be tested on their knowledge of Hebrew and English.

To enter one of the state universities, you need to score a certain minimum during the psychometric course. It is worth 400 points out of a maximum possible 800.

As for knowledge of Hebrew, the requirements for its level vary, depending on the chosen direction. Traditionally, psychology, law and medicine departments require a deeper understanding of language: this is the hey-wow level. The rest of the state’s universities are limited to the minimum “gimel-dalet”.

Interestingly, to study at engineering faculties, future students need to pass an exam in physics and mathematics, which is paid. If you want to become an artist, artist, singer, you have to prepare creative work.

How much does it cost to study for foreigners?

To master a bachelor's degree program, a visitor needs to prepare financially. Since it is state policy that tuition for local residents is 25% cheaper. On average, the amount to be paid ranges from 11-35 thousand shekels per year. The university will issue a specific invoice, depending on its location and direction.

Master's degrees are even more expensive for foreigners. Here the minimum cost of the annual course is 13 thousand shekels. But before entering the leading universities of the Israeli state, you need to calculate your own financial capabilities, based on the associated expenses. After all, you will have to additionally pay for the roof over your head.

If it is possible to stay in a hostel, housing costs will cost from 600 shekels per month. Apartments are several times more expensive, but here you can count on shared rentals. Additionally, you will have to pay for transportation, food, security services and medical insurance.

Another specific feature of the state’s educational system is that students buy their own textbooks and manuals. They are also required to pay a registration fee to the Students' Union.

Foreigners who arrived under the return program can count on certain financial support. Particularly talented graduate students receive scholarships at selected universities if they demonstrate outstanding achievements.

Fortunately, the law does not restrict the right of a foreign student to work part-time. You don't even need to obtain special permission for this.

And today he goes to Tel Aviv to find out how schools are organized in Israel.

My name is Aliya, I came to Israel 10 years ago. Now I am the mother of three schoolchildren, and the eldest son graduated from the ninth grade of the Russian embassy school, and the youngest - eight-year-old Lisa and five-year-old Katya - study at the private English-language school Tabitha in Tel Aviv. School life here begins early; from the age of five, children are required to attend some kind of educational institution; this is monitored by the Ministry of Education.

How the school works

Most Israeli children go to school close to home until high school - there are schools here in every microdistrict, and for the last two years of school they can go to a school with a special focus. We initially chose a private school because we wanted our children to have. In international schools (and in public Israeli schools too) less is required of children. First of all, they are trying to interest them. Teachers never tire of praising them for the smallest successes and highlighting their strengths first, rather than correcting their weaknesses. Another feature of international schools is the very diverse environment in which children grow up.

My girls have classmates from Jewish and Arab families in Israel, Slovenia, Italy, England and America. In elementary school, Tema had one best friend from Denmark, the other two from Nepal and South Africa. But the flip side of this was painful breakups. Since most of the students are children of diplomatic workers or journalists, employees of international organizations, they, as a rule, do not stay in the country for more than two or three years. How many tears were shed over the departure of friends!

On the other hand, children grow up without any national or religious prejudices. Although English Tabitha, as well as the Jerusalem Anglican International School, are considered Christian, they treat different traditions with great respect. Our school celebrates Christmas, Easter, Purim, Hanukkah, and Passover. In addition, they congratulate children from Muslim families on Islamic holidays and even give them an exemption from physical education during Ramadan, because those who are fasting cannot drink.

Homework

When Tema was little, he had difficulties with literacy. Once a week in third grade he received an assignment: and use them to write a short story. Tema wrote an exciting story on the page, and I must say that he is an unsurpassed master at this, and all 10 of the searched words were written correctly, but the remaining words still had to be deciphered.

He could write a word without guessing a single letter in it (the English language sometimes allows such tricks). He could even depict the pronoun “I” (I) as “uy”, for example. I closed my eyes in horror when I saw these letters. In a Russian school he would have been given a bad mark for such work.

Miss Tina, on the other hand, emphasized all the vocabulary words spelled correctly and left the following comments: “Excellent work”, “Wonderful story”, “Artem, you’re great!” and something like that. And then, during a personal meeting, she always noted what great stories he comes up with. And, of course, homework in international private schools does not require long hours of sitting over a notebook. Yes, and there are no notebooks.

For example, children are given leaflets with ready-made examples, often with illustrations. You just need to write the answer in the box. Thus, in five minutes Tema managed to solve 10 problems and examples and go for a walk. In the Russian school, where he moved in the fourth grade, it is necessary to write “Homework, problem number 52, page 10, Vasya has 5 apples. “, and so on, and my child could sit for an hour in tears over one simple task, which he had long ago solved in his mind, but to write it all carefully, retreating the required number of cells in each place, seemed to him an almost impossible task.

For the girls, everything is about the same, although they have not yet faced any serious homework. True, even five-year-old Katya’s teacher gives her some pieces of paper to take home that she needs to fill out - write letters and numbers in dots, for example, but she doesn’t need to bring it in for testing. This is done for yourself.

At a meeting at the beginning of the year, Lisa’s second-grade teacher generally announced to parents that she was against homework and believed that it was better for schoolchildren at this age to go to clubs in the evening or just walk on the playground. True, some parents immediately began to object and demand that at least their children be asked something. To be honest, I could hardly restrain myself from throwing something at these “enthusiasts.”

What do they feed at school?

The story with school food turned out to be a separate challenge for me. At the schools where my children go or went, there are no lunches, you have to bring something with you. Moreover, as is separately noted in the school rules, this should be nutritious, healthy food, and not chocolate bars. And this is a big problem because the school day lasts from 8:00 to 14:30. Since you can’t squeeze a hearty breakfast into a sleepy child in the morning, they are already very hungry by the first big break at 10 am. But what should you give a five- or eight-year-old child so that he has enough for two snacks? My kids don't really eat sandwiches. We tried pancakes, pies, cheesecakes, even dumplings.

They return most of it unchanged, because they are embarrassed to eat something that looks unusual for their classmates. In his youth, Tema did not have much of an appetite and every day he returned my lovingly prepared sandwiches unopened or with a trace of a timid bite. One day we didn't check his bag for a week and on Sunday we pulled out five identical sandwiches in various stages of decomposition.

The girls leave in the morning with backpacks filled with supplies - like on a week-long camping trip. And it’s not a fact that everything will go smoothly. There were cases when teachers called me and demanded that I urgently bring Katya something to eat, because she “...cries and doesn’t even want to try what you put for her.” It was about a homemade meat pie. Liza’s teacher once specifically wrote to me that Liza was very sad and it bothered her.

I replied that maybe she was just hungry, because for several days she had not had time to eat her lunch in a half-hour break.

“Aliya, tell her that I allow you to eat in class. It’s okay, the main thing is that she feels good!”

In general, I believe that the Russian tradition of school lunches is a great benefit for parents and children. We really miss this here. Even where Katya went, there was no organized catering. Therefore, the parents took turns preparing food for the whole group (15 people) and bringing it to them for lunch. Our Russian buckwheat with goulash went with a bang - at the end of the year, my parents even combined their recipes into a separate book, which included sushi, chicken in coconut milk and many other exotic things.

School traditions

Every year, schools always hold charity fairs and holiday concerts. An obligatory autumn event is International Food Day, when people from different communities prepare national dishes and treat everyone to them. Russian pancakes, Ukrainian dumplings and Belarusian potato pancakes are in constant demand and run out first. At these fairs I seriously expanded my gastronomic knowledge. The organization of the process lies with the parents, however, there are absolutely no obligations, and there are always those who want to participate - for example, bake a bowl of pies for the whole school. I rarely get involved in this because I am very busy at work, and no one judges me for it. The school often holds events that bring the entire community together. For example, at the end of the school year there is a tradition - a joint trip to the water park. Not only students come, but their parents and brothers and sisters. Very interesting experience! You can see a group of Russian-speaking mothers in beautiful swimsuits and waterproof makeup, and Arab mothers in burkinis and hijabs, having a nice conversation.

How to get into a good school

Getting to school is not so easy. Enrollment of children who will enter the preparatory class in September takes place in January. The interview with each child (and these are kids four to five years old) lasts at least half an hour. The competition is quite solid - three people per place. Moreover, even the fact that older brothers and sisters study at the same school does not provide special privileges. The strong part of the program is the languages. Teaching, a significant part of the teachers are native speakers. From the preparatory class, children also learn Hebrew (it is easy to learn because it sounds on the street) and Arabic.

Last year I was faced with the fact that I couldn’t check my first-grader’s homework - when I opened a notebook with Arabic script and didn’t even know where to start reading. From the fifth grade, another additional foreign language, Spanish or French, is added.

Mathematics, on the one hand, is simpler, and on the other, more difficult than in Russian schools. For example, in their second year they take multiplication and simple fractions. On the third - negative numbers.

How do parent meetings work?

There are no parent meetings in the Russian sense. Once every quarter, meetings are held with the teacher, during which for 15 minutes the teacher talks about the student’s strengths and weaknesses and advises what to pay attention to. From the first such meetings, I left, swollen with parental pride, until I realized that almost everyone was praised. The main task of the teacher is to find why. At the end of the year, a Student Report is issued - a detailed report that reflects all the progress and successes during the school year. The breakdown of successes is very detailed. For each subject, a separate plate is given, where each required skill is assessed on a four-point scale. For example, the ability to write numbers correctly is satisfactory. The ability to add within ten is good. Separate recommendations are given for the summer.

Why do children love school so much?

I have the feeling that this education system takes more into account the differences between children. Those who do are given thick books to take home. For those who don’t, it’s more subtle, with more pictures and less text. If a child says that he does not want to perform at a matinee, no one will force him. They try to present the material in such a way that the kids find it interesting. I must say that they love going to school.

Little Tema used to even try to hide the fact that he was sick so that he wouldn’t be left at home. And he asked, burning in the heat: “Mom, give me garlic, I’ll eat it and get better right away. There’s no way I can miss school tomorrow - I have a report about bears there.”

The girls demanded that I send them to school camp for the holidays. After all, there are friends and fun. By the way, when Lisa got sick one day on her birthday, the whole class wrote her cards. We received 25 cards with approximately the following text: “Lisa, come back soon, we miss you. You are a good friend and a very beautiful girl."

Since the founding of Israel, its authorities have paid special attention to the educational system. Today the country ranks second in the world in the number of people who have graduated from higher education institutions, and first in the number of scientific publications per capita, and its diplomas are recognized in all countries. Israeli specialists in the field of IT technologies are especially valued. It is not surprising that many students from all over the world come here to study, among whom Russians occupy not the least place. Citizens of our country are attracted not only by the high quality of Israeli education, but also by the large number of compatriots, thanks to whom it is impossible to feel like a stranger in this state.

Features of the Israeli educational system

Israeli law requires all children from 5 to 17 years of age to attend educational institutions.

As in many other countries, three-level education is adopted in Israel:

• preschool;
• average;
• higher.

Preschool education

In Israel, maternity leaves are very short, so children enter kindergartens as early as six months of age. Two types of institutions accept such young pupils:

• manger (maon);
• family kindergartens (moshpakhton).

Nurseries can be either public or private. They are usually located in separate buildings with their own area, equipped for children to play and walk around. The nursery is open from 7.00 to 16.00. During this time, children are fed three times and put to bed once.

Any woman can organize a family kindergarten at home; all she needs to do is undergo special training. They differ from nurseries in the small number of children. It is prohibited to accept more than 5 people into a family garden.

The cost of visiting a kindergarten for a child under three years of age does not depend on the type of kindergarten itself and is about 1,500 shekels (≈27,200 rubles).

Repatriates and parents with low incomes receive significant discounts on preschool fees.

In Israeli preschool institutions, it is not customary to force children to do anything. Educators do not strive to potty train a child or force him to give up a pacifier as early as possible.

For children of single mothers, there is a network of kindergartens organized by charitable communities. They take care of children all day and are much cheaper.

Classes in the preparatory group of kindergarten (gan-khova) are free and compulsory for everyone. During them, children are introduced to the basics of reading, writing and counting.

Secondary education

All schools in Israel are divided into three types:

• state (training is conducted in accordance with the plan approved by the Ministry of Education);
• state-religious (with in-depth study of Judaic and religious studies);
• private (teaching according to the program established by the school board);
• Arabic (they teach Palestinian children in their native language).

Most children attend public schools.

There are many private Russian schools in Israel. They accept children from the age of four. Education in such schools costs money, but their fees are available to all categories of Israeli residents.

Secondary education is provided free of charge to all citizens of the country. Money is charged only for textbooks and additional classes. In addition, once a year, students travel to different cities of the country lasting from several hours to 2-3 days, which are also paid for by their parents. The cost per student is approximately NIS 1,000 per year. Single-parent and large families are paid a special allowance that compensates for these expenses.

The academic year in Israeli schools begins on September 1 and ends at the end of June. All holidays (except summer) coincide with state religious holidays.

Particular attention is paid to the education of disabled children. Depending on the severity of the disease, they may receive education in special or regular schools. Children with special needs receive all the necessary assistance both during their studies and during employment.

School education in Israel consists of three levels:

• primary (from first to sixth grade);
• incomplete secondary or intermediate (from seventh to ninth grade);
• secondary (from tenth to twelfth grade).

Each level is a separate school, with its own team of teachers and building.

Primary school (beit sefer yesodi)

Children begin primary school at age 6 and finish at age 12. First-graders attend 31 lessons per week, where they study the following compulsory subjects:

• Hebrew (reading, writing and speech development);
• English language;
• mathematics;
• natural history;
• music;
• art (a mixture of drawing and labor);
• Traffic Laws.

In the fourth grade, children begin to be taught all the basic school disciplines, including TANAKH (the Holy Scriptures of the Jews) and computer literacy.

In Israeli elementary schools, children are not given homework or grades.

In the third grade, students take an exam, which takes place in two stages. A child who successfully passes all tests is transferred to an educational institution for gifted children.

If there is no such school nearby, then groups of talented students are formed, who study according to a special program once a week. In addition, they can attend additional classes in selected disciplines for free.

Intermediate school (hativat beynaim) In these schools, Israeli teenagers study from 12 to 15 years of age.

• At the intermediate level, the following are added to the compulsory disciplines:
• story;
• geography;
• natural science;
• civil law;

second foreign language.

The school council, which includes parents, teachers and the principal, may include additional subjects in the curriculum. When choosing them, the opinions of students are also taken into account.

In intermediate schools, students' knowledge is assessed using a 100-point system.

During some lessons, children are divided into several groups with different levels of performance. This allows the teacher to teach subjects at different levels of difficulty.

Upper secondary schools (xativa elona)

Even in the eighth grade of the previous level, students choose secondary schools in which they will continue their studies. Enrollment in them occurs on the basis of a competition of school certificates. The most prestigious educational institutions conduct entrance exams.

1. Complete secondary schools are divided into several types:
2. General education. They teach basic school subjects. Depending on the desired profession, high school students can choose the humanities or natural sciences.
3. Professional. In such schools, teenagers not only study general education subjects, but also receive work skills. Some educational institutions have additional classes that prepare junior engineers.
4. Agricultural boarding schools. They combine school subjects with disciplines that introduce students to the basics of agronomists.
5. Religious (Yeshivas). Single-sex schools that focus on Torah study and other Judaic subjects. Their graduates can work as specialists in observing kosher food technologies in cafes and restaurants or as Torah scribes. These professions are in high demand in the Jewish community and are very well paid.

In the eleventh and twelfth grade, students of all types of schools can take state exams, based on the results of which a matriculation certificate is issued.

• To obtain it, you must pass tests in various disciplines, which must include the following subjects:
• Hebrew;
• TANAKH;
• natural science;
• English language;
• mathematics;

literature.

The exact number of exams depends on the complexity of the disciplines chosen by the student.

Children who choose not to take the tests or fail to achieve the required score can take the tests at a later date.

For teenagers who do not attend secondary schools for some reason, evening educational institutions operate. Studying there lasts 4 years, and during the last two years classes are held only 3 days a week, and the rest of the time is spent working on the chosen specialty. Evening schools that train hairdressers, cooks and computer graphics specialists are very popular.

Video: Russian-speaking teacher talks about the structure of Israeli school education

Higher education

• The Israeli academic degree system almost completely copies the American one and includes 3 levels:
• Bachelor's degree - 3 years of study at a university or 4 years at a college;
• Master's degree - additional 2–3 years at the university;

Doctoral studies - postgraduate studies at the university lasting from 2 to 4 years and mandatory defense of a dissertation.

• In order to enter Israeli universities, it is not enough to have a matriculation certificate. All applicants take a psychometric test, which is organized by specialists from the Israeli Center for Examinations and Statistics.
• It consists of 165 tasks aimed at testing:
• logical thinking in the native language (40% of questions);

level of English language proficiency (20%);

mathematical abilities (40%).

Test results are valid for 7 years. The psychometric exam can be retaken every 6 months. When entering a university, the highest grade is taken into account, regardless of the time it was received.

Video: psychometric test in Israel

To obtain higher education in some specialties, Israeli applicants have to undergo additional tests. Thus, you can become a student of engineering and technical faculties only after successfully passing the exam in physics and mathematics.

Tuition fees apply at all universities in Israel. For citizens of the country, its average amount is approximately 10,000 shekels per year (≈180,000 rubles).

Low-income students can get a loan with a low interest rate. There is a special support program for repatriates, thanks to which they receive higher education for free.

Many young Israelis sign contracts with the army. Under their terms, students receive a bachelor's degree for free, and in return work for several years in military positions.

Features and training programs for repatriates

The Israeli authorities are making a large number of efforts to attract Jews from other countries. Particular attention is paid to the education of repatriates. Thus, during the first 3 years after arriving in the country, schoolchildren receive financial assistance, which is transferred to the account of the educational institution and distributed by its administration. Its size depends on the country of residence, time spent in the country and the curriculum.

Repatriation (from Latin repatriate) - return to homeland.

For repatriates studying in secondary schools, special educational institutions with 24-hour stay are organized (Naale). All expenses for repatriates’ accommodation, food and provision of everything necessary for study are borne by the state.

In addition, children are entitled to free plane tickets to travel to their home country during the summer holidays.

Repatriates also receive higher education on preferential terms. The state not only pays for the first 3 years of study at a university, but also provides cash loans that can be spent on purchasing the necessary educational materials and additional classes.

To participate in this program, you must enroll in a university or college within 36 months of arriving in the country.

Procedure for admission of foreigners to universities in Israel Israeli universities and colleges are open to citizens of other countries. Almost every university has programs for teaching them in English and Hebrew.

In addition, many educational institutions are taught by immigrants from Russia, who give part of their lectures in Russian.

All applicants to Israeli universities must know Hebrew at least at an intermediate level. You can learn it in a special educational center - ulpan.

Moreover, you don’t have to go to Israel to do this; there are ulpans in Russia. They are usually opened at Jewish cultural centers. The intensive Hebrew course will take approximately 7–8 weeks.

Israeli secondary education is significantly different from Russian, so graduates of our schools need to complete additional courses lasting from 7 to 12 months. In them, future applicants study specialized subjects, English, Hebrew and the history of Israel. Particular attention is paid to preparing for the psychometric test. After completing classes, exams are taken, the results of which are taken into account when entering the university.

Most foreign students begin their studies in the first year. Some universities count those subjects that were passed with excellent marks.

Video: about studying and working in Israel

Applying for a student visa

After receiving confirmation of enrollment in any educational institution, you must contact the Israeli consulate to obtain a student visa, which gives the right to stay in the country for more than 90 days.

• There is an agreement between Russia and Israel on a simplified entry procedure, so its applicants will need a minimum of documents. These include:
• a completed application form, which can be downloaded on the website of the Israeli Embassy (http://urlid.ru/ad9p);
• two photographs measuring 5 by 5 cm;
• certificate of enrollment in an Israeli university;
• a document confirming the availability of funds to pay for study and living in the country;

receipt of payment of the consular fee.

All documents must be translated into Hebrew and certified by a notary.

Cost of studying at Israeli universities for Russians

Foreign students pay 25% more for higher education than nationals. The average cost of one year of a bachelor's degree ranges from 11,000 to 35,000 shekels, and a master's degree ranges from 13,000 to 50,000 shekels.

The price depends on the prestige of the university and its location. Universities located in large cities are more expensive than provincial ones.

• Foreign students pay for the next academic year in January-February of the previous one. If financial difficulties arise, they have the right to take academic leave for one year.
• A student at an Israeli university faces a number of mandatory payments, in addition to paying tuition fees. These include:
• Student Union registration fee - 250–300 shekels;

payment for the university security service - 400 shekels per month;

purchase of compulsory health insurance - 1,500 shekels per year.

In addition, students purchase all necessary textbooks and manuals at their own expense.

Many students combine study and work. Most often they work as night guards, cleaners, waiters and salespeople.

Working in numerous call centers is very popular. In some universities, senior students conduct additional classes with those who are lagging behind, which are paid for by the university administration.

Israeli students can attend additional courses while studying at a university, the completion of which increases the chances of successful employment. Activities related to IT technologies are especially popular.

Scholarships and grants

International students are not eligible to receive scholarships. The only exception is for PhD candidates. They are sometimes awarded grants for special scientific achievements, but, as a rule, their amount does not cover the cost of training. Foreigners can apply for an educational loan with a low interest rate.

It is only available to low-income students pursuing a bachelor's degree.

The most popular educational institutions in the country

There are 10 universities in Israel. The most prestigious and famous of them is the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It ranks 53rd in the ranking of the best universities in the world.

The Hebrew University consists of seven faculties and a large number of research institutes.

Here you can study almost all possible specialties. Today, approximately 22,000 students are studying at the Hebrew University, of which more than 2,000 are foreigners. The Open University is very popular among Russian-speaking applicants. Anyone can enroll; there is no need to pass exams or present any documents about previous education.

Education at the Open University is conducted remotely. During one semester, there are 6-7 meetings with the teacher.

In an Israeli school, no one will force a child to study. If he himself needs it and is drawn to knowledge, he will take subjects of the highest level of difficulty (there are only 5 of them). In schools that cooperate with universities, there is a program under which 13 years of study (instead of the usual 12), upon completion of school the student receives not only a matriculation certificate, but also 1 degree. But the people there smell like crazy. There is also a test called. “psychometrics” is quite large and complex. His results are taken into account when entering university, along with his bagrut grades.

shtusha_kurusha

https://pora-valit.livejournal.com/754387.html

She studied and completed an internship in Israel at the Mahon Gold Pedagogical College as a preschool teacher and primary school teacher.
I liked it very much!
The pedagogy teachers are very strong. Theoretical foundations, of course, but I was completely delighted with the practical classes.

Orlandina

http://ru-forum.com/career/obuchenie-za-granicej.html

There is one exam left - and I am a graduate of Beer Sheva University. Studied Information Systems Engineering. I am very pleased with the level of teaching. Attendance at classes is free. Those. You can study on your own, but it’s hard.

http://www.sxnarod.com/obychenie-v-izraile-i-za-rybejom-t.html

The approach to students in Israeli universities differs from the one we are used to in the CIS: here no one will “run after you”; students are treated as completely adults, capable of making their own decisions and being responsible for them. Your opinion is truly taken into account here; in classes you always have the opportunity to discuss and openly express your point of view. All students have the opportunity to independently choose additional courses that are interesting and important for your professional development.

Yulia Grebneva

http://loveisrael.ru/articles/be_student

Pros and cons of obtaining higher education in Israel (final table)

Obtaining a diploma from an Israeli university is not the easiest task, but the opportunities that open up to its holders are worth it. Graduates of Israeli universities will not be left without work in any country in the world, and the experience gained during their stay in a foreign country will definitely be useful in adulthood.