Schools ‘On Their Own’ for Matriculation Test Supervisors, Says Ministry

In the Israeli school scene, late June means matriculation time, but schools are very short-staffed on supervisors to ensure that tests are conducted properly. Each year, the Education Ministry scrambles to find supervisors, and this year it contracted with the Manpower employment agency to get workers – but the agency, too, has had a hard time fulfilling its contracts.

As a result, the Education Ministry has informed schools that they are on their own in finding supervisors. “Schools must make an attempt to close the personnel gap on their own,” a letter from the Ministry to schools says.

The immediate need for personnel is for several tests that are set for this week, including English and Mathematics. Some schools have drafted teachers of other subjects to act as supervisors, much to the chagrin of the unions. Speaking to Yisrael Hayom, the head of the High School Principal’s Association said that she “foresees difficulties in drafting personnel for these tests. Teachers cannot take on the job of supervisors for the long-term.”

In a statement, Manpower said that “we have tried a number of methods to find the needed personnel. Unfortunately we have experienced numerous difficulties given the short notice and the difficulty in finding workers in the center of the country due to competition. We have been able to hire thousands of supervisors, and there are only several hundred more slots to fill, which we expect to be able to do.”