Shomron Council launches youth leadership program 'Generation 5.0 Global

The Shomron Regional Council announced the start of a new elite education initiative called "Generation 5.0 Global". The program aims to train high‑performing students in diplomacy, public advocacy, rhetoric, debate, digital media and artificial intelligence, with intensive English instruction. It will run for 1½ years, comprising 16 in‑depth sessions, professional tours, panels and simulations, and costs 160 shekels per month, heavily subsidised by the council.

The launch is part of a broader education reform in the region, backed by a 50 million‑shekel investment to upgrade schools as the student population grows. Over the past decade the number of schools in Samaria rose from 21 to 32, and a new state‑religious elementary school (Bnei Gold) was built with a 27 million‑shekel budget, offering 24 modern classrooms for about 500 pupils. Council head Yossi Dagan emphasized the need to equip the next generation with professional tools to represent Israel and Samaria internationally and to counter misinformation about the state.