Israel Education Minister Says Five-Day School Pilot Will Start This Year

Education Minister Yoav Kisch said Israel will launch a pilot this school year for a five-day school week in one local authority and one regional council, neither of which he named. He said the ministry’s proposed “New Deal” would also cap classes at 20 students and reduce instructional hours. Kisch said he wants to repeal the Long School Day Law and redirect its budget to municipal afternoon programs. He also said seventh- and eighth-grade pupils will study English with artificial-intelligence tools during the 2026–27 school year.