As an extension of an extra-curricular program which works directly with female students, KIAH will now engage teachers to adapt their classroom teaching to female students with academic potential, helping them to achieve high-level matriculation
Female students make up less than third of the student body of Physics and Computer Science in Israeli high schools and they constitute a minority in the advanced tracks in Mathematics. In disadvantaged areas this phenomenon is even greater, since schools tend to focus on the weaker students. Girls who have the potential to graduate school with a high-level matriculation are rarely encouraged and assisted.The “Sha’ar” school network, founded by Alliance – Kol Israel Haverim (KIAH) works with 20 such disadvantaged schools. Three years ago, “Sha’ar” created a program to advance female students with academic potential, helping them to achieve high-level matriculation and open the door to the world of science and engineering. The program provides 250 secondary school students with learning and emotional support and matches them with female role models from high-tech and academia. Next year it will expand to reach 420 students. Research accompanying the program has shown success in the participant’s academic achievement and improved self-perception.
KIAH seeks to deepen the program to work not only directly with the girls, but also with their schools. Schools will now be expected to support the learning of participating students, monitor their individual learning progress and adapt regular class-room teaching to the needs and abilities of female students. The program will include staff training for the various professionals in schools; individual tutoring for Mathematics and Science teachers; and the development of procedures and routines which will help schools to embed the support for the program as part of their day to day work.
In the coming year this school-based module will be developed and pilot-tested in seven schools, with the goal to produce a written guide which will enable additional schools to replicate the program.