Shmuel Abuav, the director-general of Israel’s Education Ministry, recently visited AMIT Renanim Science and Technology Junior and Senior High School in Ra’anana, where he gave the 11th- and 12th-grade girls a special civics lesson on rifts within Israeli society.
As part of their preparation for graduating high school and choosing their path for army or national service, the school’s juniors and seniors take part in special programs that familiarize them with different segments of Israeli society. During their discussion with Abuav, they learned about what they can do to reduce the gap between different sectors and help level the playing field.
Abuav said that Israeli society is growing increasingly divided based on religious, political, and socioeconomic status and that the nation’s most important goal is to become unified while maintaining each group’s unique characteristics.
Inclusiveness, bringing together different segments of Israel’s society and envisioning the State as a whole Klal Yisrael are the hallmarks of AMIT’s values that the schools instill in its students. Additionally, AMIT’s mission is about closing the educational and economic gaps in different segments of society, no matter if the divide is economic or geographic, by offering opportunities to students throughout Israel.
The students listened intently and asked questions about his role within the ministry, specifically, about how to close the educational gaps between central Israel and the country’s outlying areas, what is commonly referred to as the “periphery,” about the importance of bagrut exams, and about changes in educational methods. Abuav was impressed with their participation and told them that they would undoubtedly contribute to helping unify Israeli society.
Ofra Pe’er, AMIT Renanim’s principal, thanked Abuav for his visit.
“As an educational community, we view with great importance preparing the girls for the next stage of their lives. As the next generation of Israeli leaders, each one will choose her most suitable way to contribute to Israeli society,” said Abuav.
