MASHAV, in cooperation with its training extensions the Ofri Center and the Mount Carmel Training
Center, provides a wide range of training programs in the field of education. MASHAV's education
program focuses on topics such as early childhood education, science and technology education,
education and community, adult education and use of the Internet and distance learning tools.
MASHAV directs its activities towards both formal and informal educational frameworks. The target
population for trainees is widely varied, including field workers, senior decision makers, educators,
principals, local and national education system supervisors, heads of municipal and regional departments,
planners of study programs, senior educational administrators, lecturers and university staff.
MASHAV draws on the facilities and resources of its Ministries of Education, Health and Social Services
in its activities in order to add a practical dimention to the theoretical material studied and to insure
the ongoing relevance of our education programs. In addition, we consider course graduates a
valuable resource in assessing changing needs on the ground. Many topics chosen for training courses
and workshops have been recommended by graduates of previous courses. "Teacher Training for
Early Childhood Education" and "Management in Pre-school Settings," for example, have recently been
introduced because of their high relevance, as has "Child Abuse - a Multiproblem Phenomenon."
MASHAV specializes in adapting education systems to meet the demand of developing economies.
MASHAV's courses draw on the experience of Israel's education system in adapting to fit the needs
of a rapidly developing economy and a growing multilingual population, due to large waves of
immigration and absorption of refugees to Israel over the decades. MASHAV recognizes the pivotal
role of education in the process of nation-building and state development, while aiding the educational
systems of developing countries to meet the challenge of technology in the 21st century.
MASHAV also has a strong program emphasis on early childhood education. The target population
of trainees comprises supervisors, curriculum planners, researchers, program coordinators, psychologists,
doctors, nurses and community workers, all of whom may reach and benefit a wide population. Specialist lecturers present innovative approaches to early childhood development being implemented
in Israel and encourage open discussion on their advantages and disadvantages and on the adaptability
of these approaches in the home countries of each participant.
At the end of each workshop or course, every participant is required to write a project proposal
on some aspect of the topic studied that he or she can implement at home for the benefit of the
local community. After completion of courses, MASHAV fosters professional graduate support groups
in order to facilitate dissemination of knowledge, dialogue and implementation of change. This endeavor
has been very successful in a number of countries.
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Bilingualism and Multilingualism in Early Childhood Education
In November-December 2001, MASHAV, in cooperation with the Mount Carmel Training
Center in Haifa, held a new course in this topic in the framework of its Early Childhood
Education programs. The course attracted high-level participants from Latin America, the
Caribbean, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia, many of whom noted the great need in their
home countries for activities which address the burning issue of multilingualism and
multiculturalism in their own countries. Based on Israel's own experience in educating a
large and varied immigrant population, the course addressed the lingual, social and psychological
aspects of education in a multilingual setting.