Lack of English teachers. There is an Easy, Quick Solution.

It is no secret and unfortunately corresponds to the experienced facts from everyday life that fewer and fewer Israelis can express themselves in simple English. The situation is particularly dramatic in the northern region and the metropolis of Haifa. The general perceived lingua franca is Russian.

It is also a question of national security, because if fewer and fewer Israelis do not understand their most important ally, the days of an alliance, of a strong bond, are in danger.

Against this background, a debate took place in the Knesset. The press release gives the facts: “The Education, Culture and Sports Committee, chaired by MK Yosef Taieb (Shas), convened on Tuesday to discuss advancing solutions for the personnel crisis in English language studies in the education system. (…)

According to the Ministry of Education, of the 19,000 English language teachers in the education system, only 12,000 (about 40%) were trained to teach the English language, and there remains a shortage of 660 teachers.

In 2017, the Education Ministry launched a national program for advancing English language instruction in the education system. A State Comptroller report noted that despite the program’s partial success, it was significantly reduced in 2020. TALMA, the Israel Program for Excellence in English, which was launched in 2014 and employs English language teachers, most of whom are Jewish, operates mainly in a summer school format and Israel’s outlying regions.“

The Solution

The real scandal is that many Olim speak excellent English, but instead of teaching in schools, they have to sweep the floors of Israel.

The real scandal is that many Olim speak excellent English, but instead of teaching in schools, they have to sweep the floors of Israel.

Within a few weeks, even days, several thousand unemployed Olim could be recruited. I had to personally observe and hear in conversation how an academic from non-Russian Europe with perfect English had to wipe the floors of petrol stations, or how another, a trained surgeon, had to wipe floors in a health centre.

Two out of many examples encountered by chance in everyday life. Additionally, a blatant failure of the job placement service.

When you then learn that instead the Committee is discussing how to weaken the Aliyah law to hire foreign language teachers or recommend language programs called “Capish” (anything but English), you can only shake your head. Israel loves the Aliyah, but not the Olim.

Pic generated by AI. Symbolic.