Legislation requiring Ultra-Orthodox schools in Israel to teach educational core subjects has been repealed by government ministers in Israel after negotiations with ultra-orthodox faction United Torah Judaism. This legislation required these schools to teach common core subjects such as math and science to receive the same funding that secular Israeli schools receive. Currently, many of these schools reject secular education, and teach only the minimal required and receive only 55% of the funding received by fully compliant schools.
Ministers back full state funding for schools that don’t teach math #dyscalculia
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Ultra-Orthodox Israeli schools no longer required to teach common core subjects.
Officials are criticizing this move as “a mistake”, citing it is an obvious detriment to students to not receive basic education. Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid went so far as to criticize the government for “selling out” children for political gain by conceding to the demands of the ultra-orthodox group. Many fear this will ultimately put the future of Israel as a world leader of innovation at stake. The bill must still go through the full Knesset before becoming law.
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Instead of requiring the Haredi schools to teach 10 to 11 hours per week of secular studies, the law now gives Education Minister Naftali Bennett the discretion to fund schools that choose not to teach core subjects.
"Key Takeaways:
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Education Minister Naftali Bennett can now fund schools that choose not to teach core subjects.
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Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid said the amendment is “damaging” to the future of an entire generation of Israeli children.
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About 40,000-50,000 of Israel’s 440,000 ultra-Orthodox students study in schools that teach the minimum of math and English required by the ministry.
