The Education, Culture, and Sports Committee, chaired by MK Tzvi Sukkot (Religious Zionism), heard on Monday a briefing from Minister of Education Yoav Kisch on the education system in the Haredi sector. The minister argued that “a real revolution has taken place over the last three years.” The discussion turned heated, with accusations against the Haredi community and counter-arguments.
Minister of Education Kisch said, “We are hearing lies, and I want to talk about facts. What has happened in the Haredi education system in the last three years is a true revolution. In the 2023-2024 school year, there were 12,000 pupils in the state-Haredi education system (excluding kindergartens), and today there are twice as many pupils – within just three years. There has also been progress in Haredi educational networks, both in oversight and core curriculum studies. To come and claim that the situation remains the same? We are fighting to expand core curriculum studies and state-Haredi education everywhere.”
committee chair MK Sukkot shared a personal story: “I studied in an institution that did not teach the core curriculum, and to this day, I am still struggling. I took courses in English and mathematics on the side to catch up. I am so excited to see the tremendous revolution happening now in the Haredi community, and the children who are studying in those institutions today will not have to go through what I went through.”
Minister Kisch was asked about the transfer of funds to Haredi educational institutions before a vote on the matter was held in the Finance Committee. He said that the issue was under discussion in the High Court of Justice, so he could not comment on it. However, he sharply criticized the Office of the State Attorney for submitting a request for postponement: “The Office of the State Attorney does whatever it wants and disregards us. There’s a group of criminals there. There are interests there that are not legitimate.” MK Naama Lazimi (Labor) said in response: “You are criminals and corrupt. You are draft dodgers.”
Ministry of Education Director General Meir Shimoni said, “There are still things that are not being done properly, including core curriculum studies.” However, he said, a dramatic change was taking place, and currently there are nearly 80 inspectors.
Shai Calderon, director of ultra-Orthodox education at the Ministry of Education, said, “For many years, there was very little oversight of Haredi education, but today there is a transparent and documented oversight standard that has changed beyond recognition, with one inspector for every 30 schools.” He added, “For 70 years, there were no culturally appropriate textbooks for Haredim. In recent years, we’ve been publishing books that are appropriate for them, in Hebrew and English.”
MK Naor Shiri (Yesh Atid) said, “You are trying to sell us a bluff, but everyone is aware of the autonomy that the Haredi education networks have.”
MK Haim Biton (Shas), who served as a minister in the Ministry of Education until a few months ago, said, “A populist war is being waged in this House against the Haredi public,” adding, “The Torani education network, including all of its 60,000 pupils, conducts full Meitzav exams, including in sciences, as well as and international exams.”
MK Mickey Levy (Yesh Atid) said, “You’ve praised your actions, but I remind you that this is your job. Do you want a commendation? For ten months in the State Controls Committee, we have asked for a report on how many Haredi institutions were supposed to teach the core curriculum but didn’t, and how many taught only some of the core subjects. We have not received any details so far.”
Minister Kisch also addressed the objection of the Attorney General’s Office to proportional funding based on the extent of core curriculum studies, as had been practiced until now, saying, “I think this is a mistake. This is judicial interference that harms core curriculum education. The change made by the Attorney General’s Office harms our ability to teach the core curriculum in the Haredi community.”
He added: “The Attorney General will cause a decrease in core curriculum studies because educational institutions will prefer to drop to 75%. She harms the important effort of the Ministry of Education to strengthen oversight and enter international exams.”
A representative of civil society said, “60% of [Haredi) boys are in enrolled in ‘exemption’ institutions. What about them?” Minister Kisch replied that ‘exemption’ institutions receive much less funding than the educational networks.” MK Yitzhak Pindrus (United Torah Judaism) clarified: “They are funded only 35%.”
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