ABSTRACT
Israel is largely self-sufficient in foodstuffs. Agriculture is a major source of export earnings. Natural resources are limited, although there are extensive deposits of chemicals and some copper. Water resources are limited and carefully controlled. Major centres are linked by rail. The Ministry of Education is responsible for educational planning up to the higher education level. The National Council for Higher Education is supposed to regulate university growth and development, but in practice the universities have been virtually autonomous. The education system is centralised with the Ministry having wide responsibilities covering curricula, educational experiments, administration of examinations, appointment of teachers to elementary schools and so on. Local authority responsibility is largely restricted to construction and maintenance of buildings, supply of equipment, and the provision of auxiliary services. The Instructional Television Centre was initially funded by the Rothschild Foundation. Educational radio programmes are produced and transmitted by the Israel Broadcasting Authority in co-operation with the Ministry of Education.
