State of Israel
Ministry of Education
English Inspectorate
Teaching English in the Israeli School System
English is without question a global language, used in international trade and tourism, in
academia and research, and in the electronic media. Therefore, professional English teachers are
in high demand in Israel and the Ministry of Education is interested in encouraging new
immigrants to teach English. The purpose of this document is to provide you with information
regarding how to become an English teacher in Israel. For additional information, please contact
the Chief Inspector for English Language Education, Dr. Judy Steiner, at the following numbers:
02-5603587, 0506-282-273, or by email at steiner1@netvision.net.il.
Introduction to the Israeli Educational System
The Israeli educational system is divided into Jewish, Arab and Christian sectors. The Jewish
sector is further divided into secular (mamlachti), religious (mamlachti dati) and independent
(atzmai: Beit Yaakov and Haredi) sectors. All the schools are under the auspices and supervision
of the Ministry of Education.
Elementary and junior high schools are run by the Ministry of Education. However, almost all
Israeli high schools have the status of independent, recognized schools and are run by public
bodies such as municipalities, national networks and local committees. Some high schools
provide a general academic education while others may be vocationally oriented. Yeshiva High
Schools combine general studies with Torah study.
Generally speaking, the school year for elementary schools begins on September 1st and ends on
June 30th. Secondary schools also start on September 1st but end on June 20th. In some schools
students study six days a week and other schools have a five-day work week. The Ministry of
Education is currently undergoing educational reform that will affect the number of hours
teachers are expected to teach. The numbers below reflect the current system (prior to the reform)
required for a full-time position, depending on the age group of the students:
For elementary school (grades 1 to 6) a full-time position is 26 hours of frontal teaching
per week and an additional 5 weekly hours of individual teaching and 5 weekly hours
presence in school for meetings and work.
For junior and senior high school (grades 7 to 12) a full-time position is 24 hours of
frontal teaching per week.
A mother of children under the age of 14 can work fewer hours for the same pay. In
elementary school, she can teach 24 hours per week and receive a 10% addition to her
salary. In junior and senior high school (grades 7-12), she can teach 19 hours per week
and receive a 10% addition to her salary. For example, if a mother teaches 19 hours per
week in the 8th grade, she will get paid as if she teaches 21 hours per week.
Teachers are permitted to work on a part-time basis.
Salaries
As in many other countries, teachers’ salaries in Israel are not among the highest. A teacher's
salary consists of a base salary plus various additives. The base salary depends on academic
degree and experience. Experience abroad is recognized; if you taught in schools prior to making
Aliyah, (immigration to Israel) bring documentation (a letter from the principal or from the
department head) to prove your experience. If you go to reserve duty in the Israeli army each year,
your service is counted as additional experience. Attending in-service courses or additional
academic studies gives you increments towards your salary.
Vacation
Teachers receive approximately two months paid vacation in the summer, one week before and
during Passover, a week during Sukkot, plus additional Jewish holidays and Israeli national days.
English Teaching in Israel
Learning English is compulsory from the fourth grade; however, most elementary schools start
teaching English in the third grade. In addition, there are schools that begin English instruction in
the first and second grades.
Requirements for Teaching English in Israel
Knowledge of Hebrew: English teachers must be able to speak, read and write in Hebrew.
Participating in an ulpan (intensive Hebrew course for new immigrants) prior to teaching
is strongly recommended. New immigrants are frequently required to continue their
Hebrew studies in training courses organized by the Ministry of Education. Courses take
place throughout the country and studies generally last for 6-9 months.
An Academic Degree: Teachers must have a degree from a recognized academic
institution, which needs to be approved by the Israeli Ministry of Education. For
immigrants coming from non-English speaking countries, the degree must be in English.
A Teacher's License:
1. Retraining Course: For new immigrants who are already certified teachers, the
Ministry of Education offers a one-year subsidized retraining course that usually starts
in October and lasts for the entire school year. Requirements for entry into such a
program include:
a. possession of an Israeli Identification Card (teudat zehut) and/or an
Israeli Immigrant Card (teudat oleh);
b. an academic degree (a degree in English if the degree is from a non-English
speaking country);
c. teaching credentials from abroad;
d. Hebrew proficiency at a post-ulpan level.
2. If you do not have a teacher's license, there are retraining courses for academics in the
Teacher Training Colleges. (See Appendix Three for contact information for the
Teacher Training Colleges.)
3. If you are interested in teaching English in areas where there is a great demand for
English teachers, it is sometimes possible to be hired as an unlicensed teacher. In this
case you can begin teaching, and in your second year apply to your local English
inspector for an evaluation report. If the report is positive, you can then contact the
Ministry of Education to inquire about further courses you are required to take in
order to qualify for a teacher's license. You can attend these courses and at the same
time continue teaching.
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The Acceptance Procedure
Contact the district inspector for the Unit for Absorption of Immigrant Teachers. (See
Appendix One for contact information for the district inspectors.)
Contact the English district inspector. (See Appendix Two for contact information for the
English inspectors.)
Bring the following documents with you when you meet the inspectors:
1. all degrees and teaching certificates (originals and photocopies);
2. a translation of degrees and certificates (for languages other than English);
3. transcripts from the academic institution;
4. proof of experience in teaching from previous places of employment abroad
(including place of work, dates of commencement and conclusion of employment
as well as position);
5. Israeli Identification Card (teudat zehut) and/or an Israeli Immigrant Card
(teudat oleh);
During the interview, the inspector will review your documents, background and
experience. Your employment options will be explained, and the particular steps you must
take in order to gain recognition will be outlined. The inspector will then organize an
interview with the acceptance committee. The committee reviews your documents and
determines the grades you are eligible to teach, and any further requirements you must
fulfill in order to receive certification (training courses, etc.)
Note: Original documents should be used for presentation purposes only. Make sure to
have plenty of photocopies of any document you need to submit. Do NOT give original
documents to anyone.
Finding Employment
To find a job as an English teacher, contact the English inspector of the Ministry of
Education, in the geographical area where you plan to live.
When a school wishes to hire a new immigrant who has received Israeli qualification, the
Ministry of Education Unit for Absorption of Immigrant Teachers may be able to provide
financial assistance toward teaching hours. The principal must submit a written request
for assistance. If the school provides a minimum number of hours, it can receive a limited
number of matching hours from the Unit for Absorption of Immigrant Teachers. It is
necessary for the teacher to apply within the time period of eligibility for assistance, and
to meet all other criteria.
On-going Professional Development
The Ministry of Education encourages teachers to study. Most teachers regularly enroll in
some kind of training program or in-service courses. In many cases, the Ministry of
Education will pay part or all of the tuition for academic study. Decisions regarding
funding are made by a special committee, on an individual basis.
Pedagogical counseling is available to new teachers from the English Inspectorate.
Useful web sites for English teachers in Israel include:
1. The site of the English Inspectorate: www.education.gov.il/english;
2. ETNI (Israeli English Teachers Network): www.etni.org.il;
3. The English Teacher's Association of Israel holds professional conferences
throughout the school year: www.etni.org.il/etai/
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Sabbaticals
Teachers are entitled to a sabbatical every six or seven years (your choice), on condition that they
register and complete the necessary paperwork. If you take a sabbatical after six years you are
eligible to receive 66% of the previous year's salary; you receive a higher salary if you take your
sabbatical after seven years. You are expected to be enrolled in an approved professional
development program during the sabbatical year and you are refunded for the cost of tuition. You
may teach on a part-time basis throughout your sabbatical year.
Conclusion
Because of the importance of English in today's global society, it is imperative that our students
meet the standards that have been set in the national English Curriculum. The English
Inspectorate invites you to join the approximately 9,000 English teachers who are enabling their
students to reach the level of English necessary to succeed in their education and future careers.
Please contact us!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Lev Ram Building Jerusalem 91911 Tel. 02-5603587/8 Fax 02-5603596 http://www.education.gov.il/english
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State of Israel
Ministry of Education
English Inspectorate
Appendix One
Contact Information: District Inspectors
Unit for Absorption of Immigrant Teachers
District Phone Number
North 40-7744066
Haifa 40-6762767
Tel Aviv 46-7687389
Center 46-7687767
Jerusalem 42-7740766
South 46-7276006
Rural 46-7686676
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State of Israel
Ministry of Education
English Inspectorate
Appendix Two
Contact Information: District English Inspectors
District Name of Areas Email
Inspector
North Fran Sokel Afula / Akko / Beit Shean / fsokel@gmail.com
Carmiel / Gilboa Emek Hayarden /
Galil Elion / Golan Heights /
Hazor / Hof HaGalil / Jezreel
Valley / Jordan Valley / Kfar
Tavor / Kfar Kama / Kiryat
Shmona / Lower Galil / Ma'alot /
Ma'aleYosef / Mate Asher Megido
/ Merom Hagalil/ Meron / Metula /
Migdal Ha’Emek / Misgav /
Nahariya / Nazeret Ilit / Ramat
Yishai / Rosh Pina / Safed /
Shlomi / Tefen / Tiberias /
Yokneam
Yousef Daghash Druze / Maghar / Majdal Shams / dagyosef@internet-zahav.net.il
Pequi’in / Yarka / Zarzeer / Haifa
District / Beduin North
Omaima Arab Sector omaimaka@education.gov.il
Kaldawi
Haifa Miriam Binyamina / Caesaria / Givat Olga miriamme@education.gov.il
Melamed / Hadera / Haifa / Krayot / Or
Akiva / Pardes Hannah / Tivon /
Zichron Ya’acov
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Central Miram Kluska Be'er Ya'acov / Bet Dagan / Gan miriam_k@achva.ac.il
Yavne / Gedera / Hafez Haim /
Kidron / Mazkerit Batiya / Nes
Tziona / Rehovot / Ramle / Rishon
LeZion / Yavne
Anne Saggi Alfei Menashe / Avichail / Bat annesa16@hotmail.com
Hefer / Beit Yehushua / Bet
Yitzchak / Bnei Zion / Eliachin /
Even Yehuda / Gaash / Givat
Chaim / Herut / Hod HaSharon /
Kadima / Kfar Haroeh / Kfar Saba/
Kfar Sirkin/ Kfar Vitkin / Kfar
Yavetz Kfar Yona /Kibbutz Einat/
Kochav Yair / Matan / Natanya /
Pardesiya / Ra’anana / Ramat
Hakovesh / Tel Mond / Tnuvot /
Tzofit / Tzur Yigal / Tzur Moshe /
Tzoran
Shoshana Plavin Ariel / Avnei Hefetz / Ben Shemen shoshana.plavin@gmail.com
/ Bet Hashmonai / Bnei Atarot /
Elad / Elkana / Elon Moreh /
Emmanuel / Ganei Tikva / Givat
Shmuel / Karnei Shomron /
Kedumim / Kfar Habad / Lapid /
Lod / Neve Monoson-Yahud /
Nechalim / Neve Ephraim / Nir
Zvi / Oranit / Peduel / Petach
Tikva / Revava / Rosh Ha’Ayin /
Savion / Sha’alabim /Shaked /
Shavei Shomron / Shoham / Sitriya
/ Yakir / Yahud
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District Name of Areas
Inspector
Tel-Aviv Beverley Topaz Tel-Aviv / Jaffa beverlyto@education.gov.il
Tali Zahavi Herzlia / Kfar Shmaryahu / Kiryat zahavi.tali@gmail.com
Ono / Or Yehuda / Ramat Hasharon
/Bat Yam
Marsha Bnei Brak / Givatayim / Ramat Efal mhachmon@yahoo.com
Hachmon / Ramat Gan/ Holon/ Azur
Manchi Pat Talshir Jerusalem ptalshir@yahoo.co.uk
Jerusalem Shai Aran Bet Shemesh / Dead Sea / Efrat/ shai.aran@gmail.com
Jerusalem Corridor/ Kiryat Arba /
Ma’aleh Adumim / Mateh
Binyamin / Mevasseret / Modi’in
South Shirley Burg Arad / Ashdod / Ashkelon Beer sburg9@gmail.com
Sheva / Dimona / Eilat/ Kiryat Gat /
Kiryat Malachi / Meitar / Mizpe
Ramon / Omer / Netivot / Ofakim /
Sderot / Yeruham
Ibrahim Elsayed Bedouin Sector ibmsays@gmail.com
Rural Avi Tsur Whole country tsuravi@hotmail.com
Sector
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State of Israel
Ministry of Education
English Inspectorate
Appendix Three
Contact Information: Teacher Training Colleges
District Name of College Email
North Oranim www.oranim.ac.il
Haifa Gordon www.gordon.ac.il
Shaanan shaanan@shaanan.macam.ac.il
Tel Aviv Seminar HaKibbutzim www.smkb.ac.il
Levinsky www.levinsky.ac.il
Talpiot www.talpiot.macam98.ac.il/english.htm
Center Achva www.achva.ac.il
Beit Berl www.beitberl.ac.il
Jerusalem David Yellin www.dyellin.ac.il
South Kaye www.kaye.ac.il
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