Creating a Joint Venture for Career Transition from Hi-tech to Teaching – Planning Grant

Over the last few years, a substantial number of mathematics and science teachers have approached retirement age. This has caused a severe shortage of teachers and as a result, many schools have closed the doors on advanced mathematics, physics and chemistry. To address this decline, the foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and teacher training institutions, have embarked on a dedicated effort. With grants of so far over 21 million NIS, 800 new mathematics and science teachers will complete training in the coming years.

Thirteen training programs have opened to attract talented career changers, mostly from the hi-tech industry. After a rigorous selection process, they are offering a one-year intensive in-school training program with tutoring from expert teachers. Graduates receive special assistance for placement in schools and mentoring throughout their induction period by experienced teachers and pedagogic coaches. Their journey from industry into the classrooms has been shared with the public via the media, inspiring appreciation and interest.

However, the jury is still out on this phenomenon. On the one hand, excellent people are coming in, including ex-CEOs of multinational hi-tech companies, as well as doctors of science and engineering. They receive high quality training, preparing them for real-life teaching. Nevertheless, schools are sometimes reluctant to hire them and typically do not assign them to teaching five-unit classes from the outset. Their salaries are entry-level and it could take months of red tape and negotiations with the district before they are compensated for their previous experience.

When we noticed these hurdles, we approached the Ministry of Education, and together with Sheatufim, a non-profit organization that specializes in such collaborations, decided to create a joint planning process. More than 50 professionals, including government officials, schools, colleges and teachers, have participated in the preparation of a green paper. The main recommendation was to devise an integrative policy to encourage and support the transition from hi-tech to teaching. Its goal is to ensure smooth and effective transition, starting with sourcing candidates in collaboration with companies, helping candidates along the way using a talent management approach, and creating an alumni network.

In order to assist this endeavor, the team recommended creating an umbrella organization, which will help weave and strengthen this professional web, sharing knowledge and knowhow, collaborating, pooling resources and helping graduates to express their collective voice.  The recommendation was to setup this effort at the Mofet Institute as a joint venture with the Ministry of Education. Mofet was chosen because of its experience in creating knowledge networks and collaboration between teacher training institutions and teacher educators. Therefore, following extensive discussions, Mofet is proposing a nine-month planning process, which will result in a joint venture agreement between the Education Ministry and the Mofet Institute, with support by the Trump Foundation. Mofet will recruit a head of program who will construct a detailed work plan, including schedule and budget, with the goal of signing the joint venture agreement by September 2017 and starting the implementation in 2018

* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 233