World ORT Kadima Mada perceives science and technology education as a means towards an ‘education for life’ and as a bridge to reduce gaps between different populations in different regions of the country. World ORT Kadima Mada initiates, develops and implements innovative educational programs within formal and informal education systems in Israel's social and geographic peripheries. These programs incorporate advanced educational technologies from Israel and abroad.
Discipline: Technology
Target Audience: Senior and junior high school students in ultra-Orthodox yeshiva schools
Number of Participants: About 200
Evaluation: Henrietta Sold Institute
Partners: Ministry of Education, Kirsch Family, ORT UK
World ORT Kadima Mada is working towards reducing socio-economic gaps in Israel through enabling ultra-Orthodox youth to acquire technological orientation skills. These will enable them, as adults, to integrate into the job market and contribute to Israel's economy. World ORT Kadima Mada has installed advanced technological labs in 4 yeshiva high schools to train students in fields such as 3D printing, mechanics and computing.
The yeshiva school staff members are provided with teacher training and ongoing support by World ORT Kadima Mada's pedagogical team who also monitor developments in the teaching and learning process and evaluate how technological learning affects the graduates' motivation with regard to enlisting in the IDF and finding work.
This program was initiated at the beginning of the 2014 school year due to the generosity of the Kirsch Family and in cooperation with ORT UK and the Ministry of Education.
