Overview of the General Education System

Israel's education system is well-developed and reflects its diverse religious and ethnic population. Compulsory education begins at age 3 and continues until age 17. It spans 14 years, which is significantly longer than the OECD average of 11 years.

Education is free during this period and culminates in matriculation exams (Bagrut) that determine eligibility for higher education. The system is centralized under the Ministry of Education, which sets curricula, supervises teaching standards, and provides funding. Local authorities are responsible for maintaining school buildings and acquiring educational resources.

The education system is highly segmented, with Jewish and Arab students attending separate schools. Jewish students may enroll in state, state religious, or independent ultra-Orthodox schools. In contrast, Arab students typically attend state-run schools where instruction is conducted in Arabic. While Jewish religious schools have more curricular freedom, Arab schools are subject to stricter state regulations.

Educational media, such as Educational Television (ETV) produced by the Ministry of Education, offers learning content for all ages. The student population has rapidly expanded, with a 44% increase since 2000. This is approximately 2% per year, one of the highest growth rates among OECD countries. Preschool enrollment rose by 81% between 2000 and 2015, largely due to legislation that mandates free education for children aged 3 to 4.

Israel mandates compulsory education for all children from ages 3 to 17, which makes this period of schooling among the longest in the developed world. Pre-primary education is mandatory and nearly universally attended, with an average class size of 28 children, and preschools operating six days a week. These preschools are separated from primary schools and offer both academic preparation and developmental support, such as counseling and social skills programs.

Primary education begins at age 5 and spans eight years. It is standardized by the Ministry of Education and delivered in either Hebrew or Arabic, depending on the student’s ethnic and linguistic background. Secondary education lasts for four years, with the first two years compulsory and the latter two optional. Secondary schooling is free until age 18 and offered in different tracks: academic high schools, preparing students for university studies; comprehensive high schools, blending general and vocational education; and vocational-technical schools, focusing on career-specific skills. Completion of the academic track leads to the Bagrut certificate, a prerequisite for university admission.

Israel’s higher education system is vigorous and globally recognized. It comprises 61 institutions, including 9 universities, 31 colleges, and 21 teacher training colleges. The system is supervised by the Council for Higher Education (CHEI), which oversees academic and professional standards across all institutions. Of these, 41 colleges and all universities are publicly funded, while 12 colleges operate privately.

Bachelor's degrees require a minimum of three years of study focused directly on the student’s major without unrelated distribution requirements. Master’s degrees offer both thesis and non-thesis tracks, typically completed within two years. Doctoral programs demand a master’s degree GPA of at least 80, and a thesis grade of 85 or higher, with a standard duration of four or more years.

University admission requires a Bagrut certificate and satisfactory performance on the Psychometric Entrance Test, akin to the U.S. SAT. Israel’s oldest university, the Israel Institute of Technology (Technion), established in 1924, specializes in science, engineering, medicine, and architecture.