Committee for the Rights of the Child visits special education school in Yeruham as school year opens; MK Shitrit, chair: “Guaranteeing emotional support for Israel’s children is not a luxury; it is a basic necessity”

​The Special committee for the Rights of the Child visited the Dror school for special education in Yeruham on Monday, the first day of the new school year. The tour was attended by committee chair MK Kathrin Shitrit (Likud) and MKs Moshe Abutbul (Shas) and Osher Shkalim (Likud).

During the visit, the committee members met with the school’s teachers, pupils and administrators, and assessed the emotional and mental needs of the pupils.

committee chair MK Shitrit said, “In the past two years, the challenges the system has experienced have shaken the world and emotional resilience of our children, and all the more so during Rising Lion war, when many pupils entered the summer vacation without processing the experience that was forced upon them. The committee under my leadership will convene this week for a special discussion, in order to ensure that every child feels understood and safe in his or her personal learning environment. Guaranteeing emotional support for the children of Israel, within and outside the education system, is not a luxury; it is a basic necessity.”

Yeruham Local Council head Nili Aharon told the committee members, “The state is tying our hands. It is very difficult to bring in professionals for special education in the periphery. Many teachers are afraid to leave the Ministry of Education and move to work in non-profit organizations that run special education schools, especially in the periphery, because of the poor conditions (of employment).”

Committee Chair MK Shitrit said in response: “I intend to convene a committee discussion on the pay and (employment) conditions of paramedical professions, occupational therapists, and psychologists, in order to increase the supply of therapists in the system. The approach must change – schools for children with special needs are obligated to provide a comprehensive support framework, and the committee will act to ensure this.”

Later on Monday, the committee was scheduled to visit the Eshel HaNasi youth village, and on Wednesday, September 3, it is scheduled to hold a debate on the topic of “Emotional and mental support for children and youth, following the opening of the school year.”