06.10.2011                      08.Tischrei. 5772

Bildungspolitik:

Despite the Nobel win, Israel science education said in 'very deep crisis'

Prof. Ehud Keinan, chairman of the Education Ministry's advisory panel on chemistry, and other educators say Prof. Daniel Shechtman's prize is a product of an education system that no longer exists.

"It's a joyous day, but it would best to return to reality: The educational establishment has led the field of chemistry in Israel into a very deep crisis," said Prof. Ehud Keinan, chairman of the Education Ministry's advisory panel on chemistry, when asked to comment on the news that this year's Nobel Prize in chemistry will be awarded to Prof. Daniel Shechtman.
"Everyone is awestruck, but the truth is they don't have a clue" what Shechtman did, Keinan continued. "All they say is, 'What a smart man, he does wonderful things.' That is absolutely a result of the education system. If something like this happened in Taiwan, at least half the population could explain what's behind the granting of the award. That's the difference between appreciation and admiration: Appreciation comes with knowledge. And to our regret, there isn't enough of it here."…