High-ranking officials in the Religious Affairs Ministry have
criticized the new computerized system linking Torah
institution computers to the Yeshiva Department of the
Ministry. Officials note that the program currently in use
was planned by a novice.
During recent weeks, heads of Torah institutions have been
complaining that the computer program which they were given
by the Religious Affairs Ministry, developed by the Tim
company, is causing numerous problems in data transfer.
According to a decision of former Ministry Director General
Avi Blustein, this computerized system was installed in all
Torah institutions, which are then connected by modem to the
Religious Affairs Ministry. This way, information about the
yeshivos could be directly transferred to the Ministry.
The new system has still not been received by all yeshivos,
while a number of yeshivos which have received the new
program have not managed to put it into operation. Four
versions of the program have already been issued over the
past two months in which it has been in use.
High-ranking officials in the Ministry claim that the program
was prepared by novices lacking knowledge of the needs of the
Yeshiva Department and the administrations of the
institutions. These officials claim that the program was
distributed too quickly, before it was possible to determine
whether it meet the demands of Ministry systems.
In addition, thee officials say that the agreement signed by
the former director general with the computer company did not
undergo the scrutiny of the Ministry's legal advisor.
In he meantime, the Religious Affairs Ministry has said that
the 15th of the month is the final date for transfer of the
enrollment information in an orderly manner, and many
yeshivos have not yet managed to solve the problem. An
institution which has not transferred the information by that
date will not receive an allocation from the Ministry.
Officials in the Religious Affairs Ministry said last week
that the deadline might be extended. If this occurs, notice
will be given.
Spokesman of the Religious Affairs Ministry, Shimon Malka,
replied that Minister Yitzchok Cohen is making extensive
efforts to improve the system and overcome its pitfalls. "The
technicians will find a solution within a number of days," he
said.
