2023-24 academic year opens at educational institutions in the capital city
The school year opened on Friday, September 1, at kindergartens, elementary schools and upper elementary schools in Jerusalem
A total of 64,052 students began their studies in municipal kindergartens, and 151,239 students began their studies in elementary schools. In the middle schools, 19,014 students started 7th grade.
The school year at most urban high schools - 368 schools with 19,779 students - opened on Sunday, September 3.
The Jerusalem Municipality opened the new school year with good news for parents and students, including extensive in-depth renovations in the city's educational institutions, the establishment of new schools, the opening of additional treatment and enrichment centers, the expansion of curriculums, and a variety of other good news in the field of education in the city.
The education system in Jerusalem is the largest education system in Israel, with 15,657 teaching staff and over 290,000 students from all sectors, with 64,052 children entering kindergarten and 20,797 children entering the first grade this year.
In Jerusalem there are 2,657 kindergartens, of which 331 are for special education; 410 elementary schools, of which 11 are for special education; and 368 secondary schools, of which 33 are for special education.
This year, the municipality invested approximately NIS 300 million in building schools and kindergartens, expanding buildings, building new floors, establishing 145 new classrooms, and more. In addition, about NIS 300 million were allocated for in-depth renovations throughout the city and in all sectors, including for renovation of classrooms and entrances to schools, new furniture, elevators, restrooms, adaptation of innovative learning spaces, accessibility and more, in order to create more optimal and innovative learning conditions for the students and teaching staff.
It was a considerable increase compared to last year. In 2022, the budget allocated for new construction of educational institutions totaled NIS 179.639 million, and the budget allocated for thorough renovations totaled NIS 273.5 million.
The Mayor of Jerusalem, Moshe Lion, who visited a number of schools in the city on September 1, said that "September 1 is a holiday for the students of Jerusalem and their parents. The investment in the education of our children determines the future of our city. We work in all physical and educational aspects to promote Jerusalem's education. This is done through the establishment of new schools, comprehensive renovation of educational institutions, innovation, creativity, expansion of educational programs, and more, all this with the aim of providing a high-quality and worthy school environment and climate for all children of Jerusalem. The Municipality will continue to develop, nurture, support and invest in all aspects and fields of education in Jerusalem."
