In the ongoing war conditions, the Israeli education system is trying to find a balance between safety and the need to return children to school. On March 9, Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch presented local administration leaders with a plan for the gradual resumption of classes in schools and kindergartens.
This is not about a full opening of the education system, but a flexible model that will depend on the threat level in specific areas of the country. The main factor will be the safety assessment by the IDF Home Front Command, which determines the risk level of rocket attacks in different regions.
How the new school opening model will work
Safety zones and the role of local authorities
According to the presented plan, the decision to return students to schools and preschools will be made taking into account the so-called safety zones. In areas that the Home Front Command classifies as a ‘yellow zone,’ where the risk of attacks is considered minimal, a gradual resumption of classes is possible.
However, for the opening of schools and kindergartens, a mandatory condition will be the presence of fortified rooms or shelters where children can quickly move in case of an air raid alert. This requirement remains a key element of the entire program.
At the same time, the final decision on the format of education will be made by the local administration. Municipality leaders will be able to independently determine the timing of the opening of educational institutions, as well as the form of conducting classes — in-person or combined.
The Minister of Education emphasized that in the coming days, education will continue remotely via the Zoom platform. In those areas where a return to in-person format is planned, parents will receive notification at least 24 hours in advance.
Parents are not obliged to send children to schools
Flexible attendance rules
One of the important points of the program was the decision not to oblige parents to send children to schools and kindergartens. In wartime conditions, families will be able to independently assess the level of risk and decide on attending classes.
Missed school days will not be considered a violation and will not affect the educational status of students.
However, even with such flexibility, there remain a number of practical problems. One of the main ones is the shortage of staff for opening educational institutions.
According to Yoav Kisch, many teachers and caregivers themselves are mothers of young children and may face the same difficulties as other parents. In this regard, the minister called on municipal authorities to show understanding and flexibility in forming work schedules.
In the middle of the discussion on this topic, NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes that the Israeli education system in wartime conditions is forced to operate in a mode of constant adaptation. Decisions are made almost daily, as the safety of children remains an absolute priority.
The problem of school transportation remains unresolved
Special difficulties for families without cars
One of the most complex problems remains the organization of school transportation. Currently, the transportation of children by school buses is not allowed even for the special education system — the so-called ‘hinukh miyuhad.’
This means that parents have to independently take children to educational institutions. For families without a car, the situation becomes especially difficult.
The Minister of Education promised to find a solution to this problem, but no specific mechanisms have been presented yet.
The proposed plan was also met with skepticism by the Center for Local Government in Israel. Representatives of municipalities confirmed that school transportation will not be resumed yet, as authorities do not want to take on additional risks.
According to them, the return of children to school should occur cautiously and gradually, taking into account the real situation in each city and town. Municipality leaders believe that local authorities best understand the level of threat and the possibilities for protecting the population.
The day before, Yoav Kisch also stated in an interview with the radio station ‘Reshet Bet’ that the full return of children to schools may take time. He referred to the assessments of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, according to which the active phase of the war may continue for several more weeks.
As a result, the proposed plan currently rather demonstrates the education system’s readiness to respond to the crisis than offers a final solution to all problems. In the ongoing war conditions, the Israeli education system is forced to act cautiously, step by step returning children to the educational process.