Government Unveils Education Response to "Roaring Lion" Closures

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Education Minister Yoav Kisch presented a national education plan Wednesday that will allocate NIS 1.1 billion to summer school programs this year.

The plan is aimed at addressing the academic and emotional impact of Operation Roaring Lion, which forced extended school closures across the country and left students with significant learning gaps.

The budget includes an additional NIS 600 million from the Finance Ministry, on top of existing summer program funding. The framework will apply from preschool through ninth grade and will combine academic reinforcement, emotional and social support, STEM programming and artificial intelligence education.

Kisch said the program reflected a national commitment to Israeli children after an especially difficult year.

“After an especially challenging year, this is a significant national statement regarding our commitment to the children of Israel,” he said.

For kindergarten through third grade, summer school will run through the full month of July, both to support children and to help parents with child care during the summer.

For fourth through sixth grades, the Education Ministry will launch a “Summer Plus” program, offering small-group academic reinforcement in language, mathematics and English. The program will also include work on learning skills and AI literacy.

For seventh through ninth grades, a “Summer Preparatory Program” will run from June 21 to June 30. It will focus on AI proficiency, mathematics and English, while incorporating STEM projects and intensive boot camp-style learning days.

Netanyahu said the government wants Israeli students to gain early experience with artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT and Claude, before reaching matriculation exams.

“I want the students of Israel to be the best at ChatGPT, to be the best at Claude, and in many other fields,” Netanyahu said. He added that the program would also help students close gaps created during the war.

Kisch said the Education Ministry is currently piloting AI programs in 40 schools and preparing to expand them nationwide. “We are currently finalizing the details and will roll out to all schools,” he said.

Smotrich said the program would allow parents to return to work after a difficult year while also strengthening students’ academic abilities in core subjects.

He described AI education as a national mission, especially for older students, and said the summer program would be used to test AI-based learning models.

The government is framing the initiative not only as a recovery program after wartime disruption, but also as part of a broader effort to prepare Israeli students for a future shaped by artificial intelligence and maintain Israel’s position in global technology.