A program for cultivating excellence in mathematics and science in Netanya

Thirteen excellent groups have opened in Netanya, as part of which middle school students step into the shoes of decision makers and use mathematics to decide whether and how to open restaurants and cinemas during the Corona, how to deal with the climate crisis and more. Tova Dolev “These frameworks will allow more middle school students to study in the framework of excellence”

Head of Good Education Administration Dolev

The Netanya Municipality, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Trump Foundation, has opened 13 excellent groups in mathematics and science in middle schools in the city. The new excellent groups have opened in most schools in Netanya and as part of them, students receive an additional four hours of applied mathematics and science studies per week.

The program allows more middle school students to reach their full potential, progressing further to math and physics studies at the 5-unit level in high school.
Special curricula developed by the Weizmann Institute and the University of Haifa will be included in the curriculum and will focus on higher-order mathematical thinking and its applications in science, with 20 mathematics teachers and 14 science teachers undergoing intensive professional development, including pedagogical guidance and clinical work in professional communities.

The studies in these groups have a practical aspect and deal with topical issues that correspond with reality. For example, some groups are dedicated to the use of mathematics in environmental and cyber issues. Students are required to locate data, analyze it and present conclusions and ways to solve problems such as climate crisis, cyber attacks and more. Everything – through the use of advanced mathematics.

Another chapter in the studies deals with the Corona Challenge. As part of the lessons, students will be required to step into the shoes of decision makers and use mathematical analysis to answer essential questions such as whether it is worthwhile to open restaurants and cinemas now? How should seating in restaurants be allowed? How can the adhesion coefficient be lowered and further closure prevented? And more.
It should be noted that this is a municipal investment of hundreds of thousands of shekels a year in teaching hours, along with a large investment in teacher training within dedicated teacher communities.

Tova Dolev, Head of the Education Administration: “These frameworks will allow more middle school students to study in an excellent setting, develop higher-order skills and thinking that will lead them to mathematics and physics studies at the 5-unit high school level. “Unleashing their potential and embarking on the path to success, from an early age. This is part of a national program to strengthen the achievements of middle school students.”