Research to Explore the Effect of Advanced level Mathematics in High School on Socio-Economic Mobility in Israel
The basic assumption of someone who believes in public education is that excellence knows no boundaries. In Israel in particular, excellence in mathematics and the sciences holds a promise for social mobility. Today, with the growing number of five unit students across the country, it is encouraging to see the relative growth in remote areas. Several periphery cities and towns have even doubled their graduation rates, proving that with great teachers, even students who come from difficult circumstances are able to thrive. This remarkable transformation is still in its infancy, therefore the government, as well as the foundation and our partners, are preparing to increase our joint efforts in the periphery.
However, the gaps are still very wide and there are skeptical voices who question the possible contribution of excellence for the periphery. They claim that while excellence in mathematics and the sciences works well for students who come from strong backgrounds and reside in the center of Israel, the rewards of excellence for those in the periphery are harder to reap. They point to employers who prefer hiring from within their close networks and the fact that the top universities and better paying jobs are located mostly in the center of Israel.
In order to check our hypothesis, we approached the Shoresh Institute, to study the big statistical data and identify the effects of five-unit mathematics on social mobility. Shoresh was founded in 2015 as an independent policy research institute, focusing on economic and social issues. Its leaders headed the Taub Institute until a few years ago, where they conducted a national longitudinal study for us on the effects of five-unit mathematics on wages and earning capacity. This research served an important role in the public discussion that led to government policy on increasing five-unit studies in Israel.
In response to our request, Shoresh is now proposing a two-year study, using data from the Central Bureau of Statistics on high school students, matriculation grades, academic degrees, employment and wages from last 20 years. They will use the data to investigate the influence of five-unit mathematics on higher education, occupation, future income and place of residence. By comparing between graduates of four and five units, and between residents of the center and the periphery, the study will attempt to calculate the prospects for social and economic progress. The findings will be presented at a special conference, and distributed to policy makers, researchers, the professional community and the public