Approximately 2.6 million students from preschool through high school in Israel began the 2026 academic year on Tuesday, including around 180,000 first-graders, as the Education Ministry rolled out new initiatives alongside ongoing programs. The ministry is prioritizing efforts to enhance students’ sense of belonging and resilience, deepen engagement with identity and heritage, introduce financial literacy as a formal subject, and broaden the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in both instruction and assessments.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch emphasized the ministry’s focus for the new school year on three main areas: fostering belonging and security, strengthening identity and roots, and equipping students with knowledge and skills to navigate a rapidly changing world. Early in the school year, educators will concentrate on promoting social ties and trust among students and staff, alongside conducting emotional and social assessments to identify student needs and bolstering individual and collective resilience. The ministry is also working to prevent violence, social exclusion, and bullying both in physical environments and online, underscoring the link between students’ emotional wellbeing and academic success.
The academic year is themed “Roots of AMI [‘my people’]: Future, Heritage, and Entrepreneurship,” a program spanning from kindergarten through 12th grade that seeks to connect cultural identity and heritage with leadership, initiative, and social responsibility. This year, the Heritage Paths curriculum will expand to include Druze elementary schools and seventh-grade classes in state and state-religious educational frameworks.
A significant development this year is the introduction of financial education as a standalone subject, initially offered in ninth grade and slated for extension to 10th grade by the 2027-2028 school year. The course aims to equip students with the tools necessary for independent financial management and critical engagement with financial issues, while also addressing broader themes of personal, social, and civic responsibility.
Artificial intelligence will become more prominent in classrooms in line with the “Realistic Israel” reform aimed at strengthening STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education. Program 720, which focuses on a comprehensive approach involving students and teachers, will expand its use of AI-based teaching and assessment tools, including in English language studies across middle schools and STEM subjects in about 140 institutions. Over 12,000 teachers of English, science, and technology are expected to receive training in AI, with students in eighth and ninth grades participating in a 20-hour program designed to foster critical and creative use of AI, identify misinformation, and address ethical considerations. In addition, AI tools will be incorporated into matriculation exams in more than 10 STEM tracks this year. Twenty-seven schools nationwide, including those from Dimona to Majdal Shams, will offer specialized AI science tracks, with graduates eligible for technological certification.
Education Ministry Director-General Meir Shimoni highlighted the extensive preparation that brought schools to readiness for the new academic year, emphasizing ongoing support for educational teams and resource allocation. The ministry also reiterated its goal to place Israel among the top 10 countries in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) by 2029, with Israeli students participating in the exams this year under the new reforms.
In the Tekuma region, the school year opened with 22,233 students across five local authorities, including Sderot and the Eshkol, Hof Ashkelon, Sdot Negev, and Sha’ar HaNegev regional councils. This represents an approximately 9% increase over pre-October 2023 enrollment levels, reflecting both the return of residents to communities such as Kibbutz Kissufim, Holit, and Kfar Aza, and broader regional stabilization efforts. The Tekuma Administration is advancing eight major educational projects for 2026 with a combined budget of NIS 364 million, aimed at enhancing educational quality, expanding holistic services, and supporting community resilience and growth.
The investment plan includes NIS 184 million for the Tekuma Education Basket to allow local authorities to address specific educational needs, NIS 103 million for additional facilities, and NIS 54 million for informal education programs. Emphasis will be placed on improving English and technology instruction, recruiting and retaining qualified staff, and developing future education leaders. Aviad Friedman, head of the Tekuma Administration, noted that the rising student population signifies more than just numbers—it marks a regional transition from recovery to growth, with education serving as a key pillar for long-term community development.