The Education Ministry is launching an expedited teacher-training program to immediately fill a dire need for English teachers in Israel. Graduates of the program will enter classrooms after just a few weeks of training.
However, education professionals have expressed concern that the program will decrease the quality of education in Israel, saying teachers cannot be trained properly in such a short amount of time. The Education Ministry says the program is only being conducted because of the severe lack of English teachers – approximately 200 English teaching positions need to be filled before the beginning of this academic year.
The expedited program, which has 150 participants, requires a bachelor's degree in English, or a bachelor's degree and mother-tongue knowledge of English. The program is being offered at six teaching colleges across Israel. The curriculum covers teaching methods, classroom presentation and management. After completing the course, the teachers will receive a day and a half of training a week for two years, coupled with teaching work. Students at one college will begin working as teachers before even completing the basic training course.
Another program to train English teachers was unveiled in June by the Education Ministry. Under this plan, new immigrants from English-speaking countries with bachelor's degrees will receive full scholarships for expedited three-month training. Trainees will be chosen with the help of the Nefesh b'Nefesh aliyah organization. Graduates will be certified to teach English in grades K-12.