Dani Bitan, manager of the Technological Excellence Center in Migdal Ha'emek: 'Hi-Tech industries in Migdal Ha'emek and the area will 'snatch-up' each and every graduate of the Technological Excellence Center.

Mayors attended the opening ceremony of the Technological Excellence Center, which is situated inside the facilities of the "Rogozin" High School in Migdal Ha'emek, from municipalities in the area, school principals, educators and representatives of the local Hi-tech industry. The center was named after David Wartman, who's son, Coby Wartman, made a substantial donation and has personally monitored and supported this project This is yet another project supervised and funded in part by "Partnership 2000".

The project was originated due to the fact that it was difficult to find skilled manpower to work in the numerous Hi-tech companies of Migdal Ha'emek. Especially after 'Tower-Toshiba' announced their plan to build a huge manufacturing plant that will employ over 1000 professionals, the ministry of education approved the project, and it received the blessings of Israel's former president. Within a short period the Center for Technological Excellency grew from a single study course into a full-blown educational institute, which is in great demand by 8th to 12th grade students. David Bitan, who has planned two and three-year courses, during which the students specialize in network management, building of Internet web sites, CC+ programming language and more, manages the center. Bitan said that hi-tech companies will simply 'snatch up' the center's graduates due to the huge amounts of knowledge they have acquired here. This is our contribution to the well being of the area, eliminating the need to import manpower from outside the area'. The center has become a hot issue, and pupils from Nazareth Illit and the Valley Area and Migdal Ha'emek want to find out more about enrolling. Due to the increasing demand and the fact that this is a project is of utmost educational importance 'Partnership 2000', has decided to become involved by making a generous donation. Dani Bitan - project manager, stated that 'presently the demand is greater than the center's capacity. Since the cost of good teachers and sophisticated study equipment is his very high we are very grateful to our supportive and generous donors. Only recently we received 19 new computers from the 'David Wartman Fund'- purchased from a donation made by his son, which is very helpful. Bitan expressed his regrets that although the Technological Excellence Center is very successful and despite the fact that the ministry of education acknowledges the need for professional manpower in the rapidly growing hi-tech industry in the area and specifically in Migdal Ha'emek, they do not support this project, not financially nor by supplying educational resources. Bitan has made an appeal, to the management of "Partnership 2000" and to the mayors of the municipalities in the area, to try to find a solution to this problem.

  Tevet 5761 - January 2001