Rehovot School program offers phys-ed as major

Education Ministry launches initiative in 100 high schools in Israel, offering students opportunity to earn diploma in fitness instruction, enabling them to join work force immediately after graduation

The Education Ministry has launched a program that offers to students of 100 different high schools across the country the possibility of majoring in fitness instruction.

These students will also be able to earn an instructor's diploma while still in school, which grants them the possibility of beginning work in the field immediately upon graduating.

The program is comprised of 90 hours of theoretical studies and 150 hours of practical education, and begins in 10th grade. The students can specialize in one area of expertise, such as judo, soccer, aerobics, etc, and complete an internship in the 12th grade.

"There are currently 4,800 students studying in the fitness instruction program, and 500 will soon begin studying for the instructor's diploma," says Abraham Zochman, who heads the Education Ministry's physical education department.

"We are happy to give these students the opportunity to graduate with not only a diploma, but an opening into the job market."

Rehovot's DeShalit School is one of the high schools currently offering the program. The students are divided into three specialization branches: Girls' soccer, light athletics, and gym. Each branch has its own certificate, which the student receives upon graduating.

DeShalit even founded a new gym thanks to the program, which the school's principal, Leah Desklovitch, described as "an upgrade for the school's physical education department."

"I hope this tendency will grow and develop in specific fields, and that in the future other practical courses of study will be made available," she said.

Eli Senyor, Yaheli Moran Zelikovich. School program offers phys-ed as major YNet (28 September 2008) [FullText]