Jerusalem, 22 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The city of Petah Tikvah is investing NIS 500,000 ($165,000) in each of its high schools to establish fully equipped fitness centers for students, as the city seeks to promote regular physical activity among teenagers.
The gyms are being installed across the city’s middle and high schools, with professional equipment including strength machines, cardio equipment, free weights, and functional-training gear.
In recent years, teenagers have been flocking to gyms during evening hours, creating heavy congestion, and prompting some fitness centers to restrict the hours during which teenagers can enter the facilities.
The school facilities operate under the supervision of qualified physical-education teachers trained in fitness instruction and first aid. They are not open for unrestricted use during school breaks, but are intended for organized activities.
The program also offers 12th-grade sports students professional training, and graduates can receive official fitness-instructor certification, a qualification they can use for employment after graduation.