Zalman Aran and Reforming the Educational Structure: The Breakthrough in the mid-1960s

Abstract

In July 1968 the Knesset approved school structure reform in Israel’s education system. The structural reform entailed changing the eight years of primary school and four years of secondary school to six years of primary school and six years of secondary school. In addition, it promoted integration at the secondary-school level by bringing together pupils from different socio-economic levels, backgrounds, and residential areas. The reform began in late October 1963 with the appointment of a public committee headed by Professor Joshua Prawer that examined the need and options for extending the Compulsory Education Law. In late January 1965 the committee submitted its conclusions to the Minister of Education, Zalman Aran. It recommended expanding the Compulsory Education Law to include an additional year and changing the structure of the education system. Thus it brought the issue of the education system’s structure to public awareness and its conclusions served the education minister as a springboard for launching a process that ended with the Knesset passing a resolution on reform. This paper explores the evolution of the idea of educational reform, traces Aran’s considerations and efforts, examines the work of the Prawer Committee, and identifies Aran’s role in the consolidation of its conclusions.