Apart From Grades, Schools to Be Measured by Social Activities and Community Engagement

The Israeli Education Ministry on Monday stated that following the new educational criteria which was used to measure high school achievements, from now on will add information related with levels of schools’ social and community engagement, and the percentage of army draftees and school dropouts.

This information, as said by the ministry, will be attached with the students’ percentage acquired in the matriculation examinations.  

In order to implement educational and value-based achievements in school students, the education ministry officials have asserted that grades are important, but it had ‘created a false impression that this was the be-all and end-all of a school’s worth.’

Also, schools with significant contribution in society and community were solely barred from recognition as matriculation examination eligibility was considered the only criterion.

Officials of the Israeli Education Ministry also has stated that, ‘through ‘significant learning’ reforms, educational and value-based activities as well as evaluation methods and diverse methods of learning have been expanded and institutionalized to the point that they now constitute an inseparable part of a student’s matriculation certificate.”

Education Minister Naftali Bennett echoed the same, saying: “We will measure schools according to criteria of quality, values and preventing dropouts alongside such a [matriculation] measurement. I believe that changing the method of measurement will bring significant change.”

He also added that schools are the place where kids not only come to secure grades, but lessons on values are simultaneously important for setting a positive message in life.