Physics Studies in Israeli High Schools – 2016 Update

At the outset of the foundation, we approached the Szold Institute to collect data and shed light on the state of physics teaching in Israeli high schools. The study revealed that only 484 schools out of 1,129 offer a physics major, that classes are relatively small, the dropout rate is very high, the ratio of female students and religious students is low, and that the 920 teachers tend to work in isolation and retain their teaching jobs over long periods, however many are about to retire.

This report reinforced the need for the foundation’s emerging programs in this realm, including the Virtual High School for students in schools where no physics major is offered; the learning communities for teachers, , now spread across the country, which focus on reducing dropout rates; the mentoring program for new junior-high school teachers, and many others. Since then, and after years of decline, the graduation rate finally changed direction and increased from 7,892 students in 2011 to 9,350 in 2015.

At this point, the government is about to turn its attention and resources to increasing these figures even further. As a second phase of the national “mathematics first” program, a multi-year goal will need to be set. As a consequence, it is expected that additional teaching hours will be allocated, the curriculum will be reviewed and designated efforts will be made to expand the pipeline for physics matriculation in junior high schools. The government is consulting the foundation and its partners regarding the process, and our assistance is being sought in various professional aspects.

One very important element, which will be instrumental for planning, is to update the 2012 study of physics teachers by the Szold Institute. The new study will need to seek data in order to provide answers to the following questions:

1. How do students explain their choice to major in physics? What benefit or interest do they see in it for their education and their future?
2. What are the current incentives given for choosing physics by schools, the army, universities and employers?
3. What is the current distribution of physics studies in Israeli schools, across regions, cities, ethnic and religious groups, socio-economic backgrounds and genders?
4. What are the characteristics of physics teachers: what is their age distribution, in how many schools do they teach, and how many classes and hours do they teach during a school year?
5. Towards a scenario of significant increase in the number of graduates, is there and will there be a shortage of physics teachers, nationally, or in specific areas or education streams?
6. How do physics teachers and school principals perceive the plan to increase the number of graduates and what support and expertise do they need in order to lead this effort?

The study will need to gain access to the 2016 data of the Ministry of Education, the University Admissions Offices and the army, as well as to conduct interviews and focus groups with students, teachers, school principals and university deans. The foundation will commission the report to the Szold Institute in collaboration with the Ministry, with the expectation that initial findings are reported by September 2016 and a final report is published by January 2017.

A steering committee composed of experienced and valued teachers and Ministry of Education officials will monitor the preparation of the report, and react to and interpret the findings.

* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 216