Youth at Risk
Youth At-Risk: Preventing Student Dropouts and Facilitating Reintegration
A State of Israel Experience
Full Paper
Melfi M. Caranto
Overview of Israel’s Educational System
The wellbeing of the youth is being taken as a serious national issue in Israel and they have done concrete actions about it. First of all, Israel has a very good educational structure and system. Education is free and compulsory from 1st to 12th grade. There is no private school in Israel because almost all of the school is supported by the state. It is very interesting to note that there is no student who repeats a term because of difficulty coping with lessons. They have a good team who are composed of a school counsellor, a home room teacher and a subject teacher who ensures that a student is getting the attention and the help that he/she needs to finish the term or the school grade where they belong. The Baggrut or the Matriculation examination is a very systematic way of assessing a student’s readiness to land on a decent job or go to college after serving the army. It is a must for all students to enter the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). After finishing the 12th grade (senior high school) boys have to serve in the army for three years while the girls should serve for two years.
Educational System In Israel
Age Bracket
Educational Level
3-5
Pre-Primary Education
6-12
Primary Education
13-15
Lower Secondary Education
16-18
Upper Secondary Education
Not all students are the same. Some students are peculiar from among other students and needed special care and/or attention for several reasons. They are regarded as children and youth at-risk. What is unique in the Israel system is that the government created a “National Program for Children and Youth at-Risk” under the Ministry of Education responsible to look after these needs. What is also special about this department is their system of classifying the youth at risk and for creating a special program for each one
A State of Israel Experience
Full Paper
Melfi M. Caranto
Overview of Israel’s Educational System
The wellbeing of the youth is being taken as a serious national issue in Israel and they have done concrete actions about it. First of all, Israel has a very good educational structure and system. Education is free and compulsory from 1st to 12th grade. There is no private school in Israel because almost all of the school is supported by the state. It is very interesting to note that there is no student who repeats a term because of difficulty coping with lessons. They have a good team who are composed of a school counsellor, a home room teacher and a subject teacher who ensures that a student is getting the attention and the help that he/she needs to finish the term or the school grade where they belong. The Baggrut or the Matriculation examination is a very systematic way of assessing a student’s readiness to land on a decent job or go to college after serving the army. It is a must for all students to enter the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). After finishing the 12th grade (senior high school) boys have to serve in the army for three years while the girls should serve for two years.
Educational System In Israel
Age Bracket
Educational Level
3-5
Pre-Primary Education
6-12
Primary Education
13-15
Lower Secondary Education
16-18
Upper Secondary Education
Not all students are the same. Some students are peculiar from among other students and needed special care and/or attention for several reasons. They are regarded as children and youth at-risk. What is unique in the Israel system is that the government created a “National Program for Children and Youth at-Risk” under the Ministry of Education responsible to look after these needs. What is also special about this department is their system of classifying the youth at risk and for creating a special program for each one
References: Lahav, Chaim. Working with Youth At-Risk in Israel. (Handout) Lahav, Chaim. Working with Youth At-Risk in Israel: Challenges & Experience (Handout) Educational Methodologies - The Youth At-risk: Preventing Student Dropouts and Facilitating Reintegration. A. Ofri International Training Center, MASHAV. February 11-March 12, 2013 Israel’s National Program for Children and Youth at Risk. Jerusalem. Jan. 11, 2011 Facts and Figures in Education System. Ministry of Education of State of Israel: (Handout) Submitted Report to TIP President. March 26, 2013.