Budgetary discrimination and ignorance: This is how the 2026 elections will determine the future of Israel's education

The schedule of Israel's students is a reflection of the election campaign that has been sweeping the country in recent months. The Israeli education system is not a single entity, but four separate systems for the four "tribes" represented by the political players currently running for the Knesset: state-secular, state-religious (HaMaD), ultra-Orthodox, and Arab.

While many look at September 1st, the more critical date for the education system will be Tuesday, October 27th, election day. This could be a turning point, as the election results will determine the system's future direction. Various parties are promising far-reaching reforms: mandatory core curriculum studies for all sectors, a transition to a five-day school week, transferring school management to local authorities, and changes to coalition funding.

A Gap in Content and Values

Comparing the schedules of the four sectors reveals significant gaps. For example, first-grade students in the state-secular sector study about 25 hours a week, focusing on Hebrew, math, science, and life skills, without additional languages.

In contrast, state-religious education (HaMaD) studies about 28 hours, with seven hours dedicated to religious studies, Halakha, and Mishnah. In ultra-Orthodox education (Talmud Torah for boys), the school day lasts until the afternoon (about 40 hours a week), with most of the time devoted to religious studies and prayer. English, science, and technology are largely absent, and math and language subjects are pushed to the end of the day. In the Arab sector, first-graders study three languages simultaneously—Arabic, Hebrew, and English—which take up 40% of the schedule.

A Cultural Chasm

Beyond the numbers, there are profound differences in culture and values. A recent social media storm erupted when reality show participants failed to recognize Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin or poet Naomi Shemer. One participant, raised in an ultra-Orthodox school, explained that they simply were not taught about national leaders.

"The children's schedule is a mirror of the educational concept in Israel, allowing a glimpse into the deep gaps between the streams," says Maayan Hajaj Kahlon, director of the state education department at the Manor Center. She notes that while state-secular and Arab students receive a short school day focused on basic skills, religious and ultra-Orthodox students benefit from a long day that provides cultural and identity depth.

The Problem of "Tribes" and Budgetary Discrimination

Prof. Chaim Shaked, president of Hemdat Academic College and chairman of the forum of presidents of education colleges, argues that the education system itself fuels these divisions. "Religious and secular people live together and serve in the army, but the education system creates differentiation from the age of three," he says.

Budgetary discrimination is another factor. Ministry of Education data shows that state-religious students receive more funding than their secular counterparts. For instance, in middle school, state-secular students are budgeted 23,971 shekels per pupil, compared to 29,630 shekels for HaMaD students.

Prof. Shaked explains that this stems from structural differences: "The criteria are uniform, but the nature of the schools—small classes, special education integration, and immigrant integration—leads to higher per-pupil funding. The Supreme Court has noted that even if the gap stems from uniform criteria, it remains a problem. Furthermore, religious schools receive specific funding for prayer hours and school rabbis, as HaMaD views its mission as instilling a religious lifestyle and identity."