in
Jerusalem In the first decade of statehood, the education system was faced with the task of establishing a network of kindergartens and schools for a rapidly growing student population. In 1949, there were 80,000 elementary school students. By 1950, there were 120,000 - an increase of 50 percent within the span of one year. Israel also took over responsibility for the education of Arab schoolchildren. The first minister of education was
Zalman Shazar, later president of the State of Israel. Since 2002, the Ministry of Education has awarded a
National Education Award to five top localities in recognizing excellence in investing substantial resources in the educational system. In November 2021 it was announced that the Ministry of Education is not implementing the High Court ruling and that the damage to those organizations continues. ==List of ministers==