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Early Childhood Education in Israel:Improving Preschool Quality

Monica Winokur ECEC Session

OECD Seminar - Caesarea

November 2011

State of IsraelMinistry of Education

Pedagogic AdministrationPreschool Education Division

Preschool Education in Israel

Preschool Classrooms = 13,000

Jewish; 300000; 77%

Arab; 61000; 16%

Druze; 9000; 2%

Bedouin; 18000; 5%Jewish

Arab

Druze

Bedouin

Preschool Children 3-6 = 388,000

Vision

High quality education and care accessible to all young children, enhancing development and providing equal opportunities for learning; leading to purposeful and fulfilling lives for each individual and for society as a whole.

Challenges

Demography:waves of newcomers - immigrationdifferent ethnic groupsdiverse orthodox religious affiliations

Hostilities:wars, constant missile and terror attacks

Split ministerial responsibility3 Ministries in charge of ECEC 0 -3

Establish a national curriculum

Improve teaching workforce Implement the “New Horizon” preschool educational reform

Provide access to free preschool from age 3

Integrate early childhood education 0-6

Mission

Core curriculum programs

Preschool Educational Practice Guidelines

Curricular support materials

Activities to broaden children’s experiences

Curriculum

Tools to monitor children’s participation and progress

Early childhood intervention programs

Partnerships with families and communities

Provide a longer school day

Restructure teaching\learning models

Involve parents and communities

Require on-going workforce training

Raise teachers’ salary

“New Horizon” Preschool Reform

Only qualified kindergarten teachers are heads

of staff Continual improvement of workforce through

participation in OJT courses devised and implemented by the Ministry

Pedagogical Trainers help teachers develop and

implement pedagogical processes and curriculum Preschool Education Supervisors are in charge

of evaluation

Improve teaching workforce

Compulsory free preschool education is

determined by law for all children aged 5

Until now it includes 3 and 4 years old in

defined low socio-economic areas comprising

47% of preschoolers that age

Next school year all 3-4 children will access

free compulsory education

Free Preschool Education

Recommendation – ECEC 0-6 under the Ministry of Education

Planning and Implementation of the transition – Preschool Division

Integration of ECEC 0-6

Thank you

Preschool Education in Israel

3450

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

41,00042,00045,000

61,000

82,000

117,000

Non-Official Recognized EducationOfficial State Education

Core curriculum programs

Preschool Education Practice Guidelines

Curricular support materials

A&M S&T

B

Activities to broaden children experience

Mabatim - systematic observation of children in their preschool environment

MA’AGAN programA multidisciplinary early intervention program intended to address special needs of young children, within their educational settings, in order to ensure their optimal participation in the wide range of proposed activities. Children are referred for treatment by specialized practitioners when considered necessary

Preschool Education Practice Guidelines

Emphasis on quality interactions leading to optimal preschool climate: a social-educational environment that is safe, supportive, equalitarian and provides children with a sense of security to explore and actively learn, fostering their personal development.

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