Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Education Minister Yoav Kisch presented a comprehensive national outline for the education system on Wednesday, allocating NIS 1.1 billion to summer programs this year, the Government Press Office confirmed.
The program is designed to address the academic and emotional toll of Operation Roaring Lion. The conflict, which has led to widespread school closures, has left students across the country with significant gaps in their education.
"After an especially challenging year, this is a significant national statement regarding our commitment to the children of Israel," Kisch noted
The record-breaking NIS 1.1 billion budget results from a supplementary allocation of NIS 600 million from the Finance Ministry to the existing summer programs budget.
The outlined educational framework applies to preschool through the 9th grade and combines Science, Technology, Engineering, and Medicine (STEM) programs, AI education, and emotional and social support.
Plan divided into specialized tracks to ensure age-appropriate support
For kindergarten through 3rd grade, summer school will be extended to run for the full month of July, in part to assist parents with child care.
For 4th to 6th grades, a "Summer Plus" program is being launched. This initiative offers academic reinforcement in small groups, focusing on language, mathematics, and English, while strengthening learning skills and AI literacy.
The 7th to 9th grade program includes a "Summer Preparatory Program" that will run between 21 and 30 June. The program focuses on AI proficiency, mathematics, and English while incorporating STEM initiatives and boot camp days.
"During the upcoming summer vacation, we will operate special frameworks for Israel's children, from kindergarten through ninth grade. Within this framework, we will train them in the field of AI, which is changing the entire world," Netanyahu said.
"I want the students of Israel to be the best at 'ChatGPT,' to be the best at 'Claude,' and in many other fields, even before their matriculation exams. Of course, we will also assist all students in closing learning gaps that accumulated during the war."
Kisch said that "the education system is currently piloting 40 schools with artificial intelligence. We are currently finalizing the details and will roll out to all schools."
Regarding the focus on AI education, Netanyahu said, "I know that the future of all of Israel's children is inextricably linked to AI.
"Within this framework, we will train them in the field of AI, which is changing the entire world."
This major investment is not merely a remedial measure; it is a strategic maneuver to maintain Israel's qualitative edge in the global hi-tech landscape. By integrating advanced AI platforms like ChatGPT and Claude into the curriculum, the government is aligning this summer initiative with broader national AI goals.
"As Finance Minister, I stood together with my colleague, the education minister, stating that the program will focus on boosting academic capabilities and integrating AI systems," Smotrich said.
"The program will allow parents to go out to work after a complex year, while simultaneously focusing on advancing academic skills in core subjects," he continued.
"I emphasized an important point which I view as a national educational mission: The integration of AI systems, starting with the higher grades. We will utilize this program to implement a pilot for AI-based learning," he added.