Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointed to economic growth as a key in furthering the country's education system. Netanyahu spoke at the "Globes" Israel Business Conference forum on education, called "Today's students, tomorrow's human capital".
Netanyahu said, "We are exiting the global crisis and beginning to grow, but I do not think that there is room for euphoria. It is impossible to know if the global economy will return to growth in the coming years, and I think that there are still not-inconsequential risks to the Israeli economy."
The prime minister pointed to economic growth as a solution to many challenges, including defense, which the country faces. "It is also the way to finance the solution to the problem of the education system. Looking over the next few years, our growth engine will be upgrading human capital. In other words per capita growth will give a solution to Israel's existential and educational needs, and further on, education will provide for growth."
Netanyahu said, "The education system in Israel is in trouble." As a step in dealing with the issue, the prime minister said, "First, I appointed good people to manage the system. I appointed Gideon Saar as Minister of Education. The second thing is backing. We will give support to the required reforms in the education system."
Netanyahu discussed the importance of having strong administration, and seemed to criticize the current system when he related, "The general manager of Intel in Israel wanted to be a school principal, and they decided she wasn't worthy. So she went to be the general manager of Intel Israel.
Netanyahu emphasized the need to bring as many people as possible into the workforce, and toward that end he proposed including "core tools", such as foreign languages, in every school. "Let's begin to teach Chinese, it's important. The way to help the weak is to help them every day, week after week, to help them here and now."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 14, 2009
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