Two weeks before school starts – chaos in education system continues

At a meeting of heads of education departments at local government centres and authorities in Hadera this morning (Tuesday) to prepare for the opening of the school year, senior officials of the education system and heads of authorities discussed the impact of the war on the opening of the upcoming school year, the challenges of rearguard learning in evacuated areas, security and safety issues, the crisis between the ministries of education, education by teachers’ organisations and the threat of strikes.

Minister of Education Yov Kish, Chairman of the Local Government Haim Bibus, Chairman of the Union of Managers of the Education Departments Rami Hoffenberg, Secretary of the Histadrut Teachers Union Yaffi Ben David, Chairman of the Organization of Higher Elementary Teachers Ran Erez, Chief Rabbi Former Israel Meir Liu, Director General of the Ministry of Education Meir Shimoni, Mayor of Hadera Nir Ben Haim, who chaired the meeting, and mayors and directors of various education departments.

Participants discussed the physical, logistical and emotional challenges facing the education system ahead of the start of the year, stressing the need for evacuated areas and authorities to step up preparations to deal with the complex security situation. In addition, the issue of increased extracurricular fees was raised, as well as the importance of completing negotiations with teachers’ organizations so that all Israeli students can start the new school year in a normal manner.

Yoav Kish: “The education of the coming year will be about recovery and resilience. An important part will also be about remembrance and heroism, social cohesion and innovation. I have spent a lot of time with Ran Erez over the past few weeks. I have seen a huge commitment from all of you. I had a difficult battle with the Ministry of Finance over the budget and I am glad that we have been able to maintain the budget framework that we had to accomplish to start the new year without a strike.

Haim Bibbs, President, Center for Local Government: The nation must prioritize education and recognize that education is our resilience.

Regarding the sanctions against the teachers’ organization, Bibbs said: “Ultimately, there are two groups that are most affected – students and teachers. We need to stop fighting on their backs. Both sides are entrenched, both are convinced that their path is the right one, and are blind to the ongoing damage they are causing. When negotiations are conducted in good faith, compromises must be reached, and it must end at some point, and I call on all parties to make a final effort to end this never-ending saga so that we can open the school year for all Israeli students.”

Additionally, Biebs commented on the increase in after-school prices: “Raising the price of Nitzanim after-school classes is out of the question. The Ministry of Finance must reverse this cut or we may not even be able to open schools. The Ministry of Education should not be left like a lamb to the slaughter. It must confront the Ministry of Finance.”

Ran Erez, president of the Secondary School Teachers’ Organization: We all desire an education system with good teachers, adequately paid and willing to stay in the system. We have tried to improve the situation but found ourselves on both sides. A restraining order has been issued against us. I appeal to the local government: please think twice before appealing to the court. We are here for the good of the education system and our goals are common.

Nir Ben Haim, Mayor of Hadera : “Besides the important, correct and fair treatment of the citizens of Otaf, the evacuees, the regular army and the reservists, there is a reality that is in line with the absolute majority. The role of the government is to provide us with all the right resources”