How Much Do Parents Pay for Their Children's Education in Israel, and Which Sector Has the Highest Cost?

A new report from the Central Bureau of Statistics reveals that the average private spending by households on their children's education in 2022 reached 480 shekels per month, a significant increase compared to 341 shekels in 2020, the year of the pandemic.

Furthermore, the figures in the report also present a complex picture of private educational spending in Israel. On one hand, investment in education is high, but on the other, there are significant gaps among different population groups.

The report highlights several prominent gaps. One is between state education and state-religious and ultra-Orthodox education: parents in state education and the top quintile spend more on average on their children's education compared to parents in state-religious, ultra-Orthodox supervision, and Arab society.

Additionally, there is a socio-economic gap: The gap between household spending in the lowest quintile (379 ₪) and the highest quintile (727 ₪) is huge, indicating inequality in educational investment.

Another gap exists between Jews and Arabs, with Jewish households spending on average 509 shekels on their children's education, while Arab households spend 390 shekels.

In general, one can say that high school students incur the highest costs (617 ₪), followed by middle school (538 ₪) and elementary (423 ₪).

What Lies Behind the Numbers?

The data indicates that parents see education as a very important investment, and they are willing to spend significant amounts to provide their children with the best. However, the large gaps between the different strata raise concerns about unequal opportunities in education. The reasons for these gaps are diverse, including differences in income, awareness of the importance of education, and access to supplementary educational services.

It is important to note: The private spending on education examined in the report includes direct expenses on the student, like private lessons and extracurricular activities, as well as part of the total household expenditure on educational services. The report does not include expenses on yeshivas and Torah studies, where the monthly cost per student ranges from 500 to 1500 shekels.