Today, knowledge of science and technology is one of any nation's most important assets. More than ever before, industrial production and economic strength are dependent on the population's scientific and technological qualifications. Comprehensive and advanced education in science and technology is at the foundation of every success and innovation in a wide variety of fields, including industry, agriculture, energy, health, communications, environment and defense.
The State of Israel has declared it a national priority to strengthen, deepen and improve studies in mathematics, the natural sciences and technology in all spheres of the educational system in an effort to prepare the next generation of Israeli citizens for life in the scientific-technological age.
With this as background, MASHAV, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, hosted an intensive one-week educational study visit for Ministry of Education directors general and senior officials from 11 countries in November 2001. The main purpose of this tour was to present those parts of Israel's educational system which are relevant to the visitors from developing countries. It was equally important to present MASHAV activities and the potential it has to offer in the area of education so that future cooperation would be possible.
There were a number of subjects of particular interest, including a general overview of the Israeli educational system, science and technological education, teacher education, higher education, and the Israeli education industry with all its cutting edge hardware and software. With so few days at their disposal, the emphasis was on fewer lectures and as much activity as possible. As Uzi Israeli, Director of the Aharon Ofri International Training Center, notes: "The rationale of this study tour was to bring senior decision makers to Israel in order to enhance the impact of their own initiatives. We wanted to show them projects relevant to their nations, particularly those outside the large city areas. And it was important that they see these projects rather than just listen to frontal lectures on them. In the field of education we say, 'To hear is to absorb, to see is to understand, and to do is to integrate.'"
Kramim, a primary community school in a small town near Tel Aviv (Rishon leZion) where parents are actively involved in planning all kinds of educational activities in general and science education in particular.
Several years ago the Ministry of Education prepared an in-depth Report of the Superior Committee on Science and Technology Education in Israel. The Committee noted that although not every person is expected to be a scientist, nonetheless, a certain ability to think quantitatively and scientifically, the capability to understand and grasp a scientific or technological problem, and an understanding of the fundamental rules of the language of mathematics, science and technology are essential components in training future professionals, teachers, musicians, farmers, businesspeople, school principals, politicians or any other profession that requires basic education. A foundation in science and technology is no less vital for the advancement of the less privileged sectors of society, and a special effort is made in this direction. It was recommended then that instruction in mathematics, science and technology should be expanded to include all students in pre-school, elementary school and junior high school, as well as high school students (both academic and technical tracks).
For this reason the group of educators from developing countries were taken to visit developing areas in the periphery.
Eshkol Pais
Eshkol Pais is a regional center based in Kiryat Gat for the study of science, technology and arts during morning and afternoon hours for the benefit of the whole community. Eshkol Pais, financed by a national lottery, provides a learning environment rich in research aids and hands-on experience that allows active learning.
Havayeda ("To Experience Knowledge")
Countrywide network of interactive science and technology museums for kids.
Tasiyeda ("Think Industry")
The Education Program of the Association for Industry-Community Relations (AICR) has developed a sophisticated education program intended to teach Israeli students the values on which modern competitive industry is based, called Tasiyeda or "Think Industry." Since its inception in 1988 the program has involved more than 85,000 students, aged 6-12, gifted youngsters as well as socially alienated youth, and young people from disadvantaged and new immigrant families.
The main goals of "Think Industry" are:
- Teaching universal values - responsibility, precision, teamwork, professionalism, goal orientation, thorough planning and attention to quality
- Development of thinking skills - creative and systematic thinking, problem solving, inventive thinking, logical and critical thinking and decision making
- Learning skills - the ability to acquire basic knowledge, to build on existing knowledge and to access new sources of information
- Application of acquired knowledge to real life situations, via interdisciplinary studies, based on the reality of the industrial world: competition, profit-making and commitment to the market and to the customer
- Entrepreneurship - encouraging initiative and originality in developing new products, solving problems, improving quality and efficiency.
All these values are components of industry, but they are also vital to the success of every advanced society. They are universal, and the students who absorb them can apply them to any profession they choose in the future.
Degem, one of the flagships of the Israeli education industry using innovative technologies. The visitors saw their Multicenter that narrows the digital divide by building a bridge through education and technology, "creating new channels for dialogue between all communities around the worldto increase mutual understanding."
A Meeting with the Education and Culture Committee in the Knesset
Much of the work of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, is carried out in its committees. One of 12 permanent committees, the Education and Culture Committee prepares bills prior to their adoption or rejection, discusses motions, deals with regulations, and may initiate debate on a certain issue.
Meetings with three former Director Generals of the Ministry of Education
Dr. Eliezer Shmueli, Former Director General of the Ministry of Education, speaking about the Challenges of Contemporary Israeli Education, said that major challenges include the fact that this is a country of many immigrants, who must learn to speak the national language, Hebrew, that integration is a goal in order to bridge social gaps.
Yitzhak Navon, the Fifth President of Israel and Former Minister of Education, also stressed the role of education to integration, describing his own personal experiences growing up in Jerusalem.
Dr. Elad Peled spoke about wide national educational projects - from planning to reality.
Rabbi Michael Melchior, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, spoke about the value of education in Jewish tradition over thousands of years.
Mrs. Ronit Tirosh, Director General of the Ministry of Education, emphasized three current ideas in education in Israel: the importance of expanding equality in education, the unique task of studying the ancient heritage common to us all within the colorful mosaic of traditions and cultures which converge in Israel, and the importance of nurturing and training of teachers.
Interview with Arie Arazi
This visit of Ministry of Education officials was particularly successful. "The advantage of such a short, intensive visit," says Arie Arazi, Deputy Director of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of MASHAV, "is that it gives decision-makers the opportunity of coming to Israel and seeing what we have to offer. Thirty days, the length of most international courses, is too long a time for them to leave their work, but five days of exploring educational opportunities through such a comprehensive tour, with two days for sightseeing, is just right. This proved itself already with the 47 prominent women leaders who participated in the International Symposium on the Impact of Women's Training on Socio-Economic Development held at the Golda Meir Mt. Carmel International Training Center in June of 2001. We were pleased that even the United Nations' Assistant Secretary-General and Special Advisor on Gender Issues Angela King, as well as prominent representatives from the Council of Europe, the World Bank, the Organization of American States and several government Ministers were able to come for that week. We are thinking of doing the same sort of thing for Ministry of Health officials in the coming year."
"Almost all the directors-general and senior officials expressed a strong desire to continue working with MASHAV and the Israeli Ministry of Education in order to implement in their countries some of the projects introduced to them during the study tour."
"All the while we are debating new directions for MASHAV. These will include broadening MASHAV's exposure in training and human capacity building. One of new ideas is that in addition to bringing professionals here to Israel to participate in training programs, we are working on establishing training centers in other countries which will provide 10 to 12 month-long training sessions a year. We are in the last stages of planning this type of program in the Philippines with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)."
"And in China, where we already have a successful demonstration farm at Yongledian near Beijing, MASHAV has agreed with the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel (CAIEP) and MATAT (an Israeli NGO which sends volunteer experts in many fields, mainly agriculture, to 21 countries, especially China,) to run agricultural courses there throughout this next year for participants from all over China."
"Another exciting new direction is Distance Learning. We just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Bank that will enable MASHAV to be part of their Global Distance Learning Network (GDLN). We will have a pilot program ready for the Philippines soon, but the whole MASHAV learning network will be available to any country in the whole world within two to three years. Participants will be able to sit at their work stations and listen to an Israeli expert talking about his or her given subject, will be able to interact with that expert in real time and will be able to absorb study material while sitting in their home countries."
"What are MASHAV's strengths? MASHAV is a down to earth organization. We are trying to address problems with practical and immediate solutions, based on Israeli experience in development. But we haven't secured enough funds to address that which we would like to address. MASHAV is totally dependent on the budget the Israeli government can allocate and that budget is decreasing because of the world economic situation. We need to find partners in the world to realize our capabilities."