It is back to school for everyone. Following are reports
about the major chareidi school systems as the year begins,
kein yirbu.
Students in Jerusalem's Chareidi Education System Continue
to Increase
by Betzalel Kahn
The number of students in Jerusalem's chareidi education
system continues to grow, paralleling a rise in the number of
Arab students as the government and government-religious
education system in the city continue to show a steady
decline, according to municipality figures announced this
year at the annual press conference preceding the first day
of school.
This year 176,000 students will be studying in city schools,
including 64,739 students enrolled in government and
government-religious schools, 34,823 in the Arab sector and
76,256 in the chareidi sector.
In contrast to the 3.1 percent increase over last year in the
chareidi sector, the number of students in the general
education system shows a marked decline. Over the last eight
years enrollment in government and government-religious
schools has dropped by 7,680 students, a decrease of 12
percent. In the Arab sector the number of students rose by
13,971 during the same period, up 67 percent!
The City of Jerusalem figures for chareidi education in the
upcoming year -- reported in a special booklet prepared by
the Department of Chareidi Education staff, headed by Rabbi
Binyomin Cohen -- show 16,200 children are enrolled in
kindergartens, up 1 percent; 40,774 students are enrolled in
primary schools, up 4.5 percent; 17,700 students are enrolled
in high schools, up 1.7 percent; and 1,582 are enrolled in
special education schools, up 9 percent.
The Department spent a total of NIS 25 million preparing for
the school year, funds allocated to activities such as NIS 4
million to set up temporary structures and NIS 2.5 million to
perform structural inspections and convert empty spaces into
classrooms. A total of NIS 3.5 million was earmarked to equip
new classrooms, NIS 8.5 million was spent on renovations and
NIS 6 million was spent to remove safety hazards.
According to Department figures, chareidi schools face a
shortage of 900 suitable classrooms. In the upcoming year the
Department will break ground at three construction sites.
Department spokesmen say 40 percent of the city's chareidi
students study in classrooms located in temporary structures,
in classrooms with inadequate facilities and in makeshift
facilities in existing buildings and rented buildings that
are difficult to adapt into suitable classrooms. Since the
construction budget has not yet been brought up to par, the
Department is, however, continuing to arrange alternative
classroom facilities.
Department spokesmen say they hope to improve conditions in
classrooms that lack proper ventilation or insulation. Last
summer a total of over NIS 1 million was spent to install air
conditioners. Due to the wide geographical distribution of
schools and students this year, the Department received NIS
1.5 million to pay for 50 percent of bus tickets for
approximately 6,000 students from families with limited
means.
In the upcoming year the Department will begin a traffic-
safety program in cooperation with the Municipal Sports
Authority and the Transportation and Education Ministries. A
sum of NIS 500,000 has also been earmarked to help in the
construction of a pedagogic center where educators will be
able to participate in special courses and obtain enrichment
materials and didactic aids.
Mayor Ehud Olmert says that in the coming year the
construction of another 40 classrooms and annex rooms will be
completed at three schools in the chareidi sector and 31
temporary structures will be set up at 14 schools.
Over 52,000 Students in Bnei Brak Schools
by A. Cohen
Some 52,500 students filled Bnei Brak classrooms--up 1,000
over last year's total--in kindergartens, classrooms and
Chinuch Atzmai institutions, posting the largest proportional
increase throughout the Gush Dan region.
City secretary and spokesman Avrohom Tannenbaum says 20,524
children are enrolled in primary schools, including 2,907 in
the city's chareidi program for boys, 10,727 in the city's
chareidi program for girls, 5,000 in public talmudei
Torah, 1,085 in government-religious schools, 505 in
government (non- religious) schools and 300 in special
education. The city's chareidi education system comprises of
30 schools, in addition to five government-religious schools
and two government schools.
In the upper grades 11,438 students are enrolled, including
4,286 in eight chareidi schools, 5,000 in public chareidi
schools, 1,560 in four government-religious schools and 592
in the city's single government school.
The city's kindergartens include 4,774 children in 154
classrooms run by the city's chareidi education system, 6,000
children in public chareidi kindergartens, 609 children in 21
government-religious classrooms, 66 children in two
government classrooms and 230 children in special education
programs.
Enrollment in the city's chareidi kindergartens has increased
substantially with 1,067 children in the 3-4-year-old bracket
and 1,775 five-year-olds. While younger children are
streaming to private kindergartens as well, a large
proportion of five-year-olds are enrolled in the City's
programs, reflecting the high level of professionalism among
its kindergarten teachers and excellent educational services.
Most of the city's kindergartens are equipped with air
conditioners and other necessities.
This year two new chareidi kindergarten classes opened in the
area of R' Yehuda HaNossi St. as residents began to occupy
newly constructed apartments in Kiryat Moshe and other
neighborhoods.
Two new tracks have been introduced to the chareidi sector in
the area of special education: an additional kindergarten on
Orleans St. set up for children with cerebral palsy and a
class for PDD children in the neighborhood talmud
Torah.
In addition to public and city programs Bnei Brak has another
50 yeshivos ketanos with a total of 9,000
talmidim.
R' Tannenbaum says construction and development is showing an
impressive upswing throughout the city. The Rav Wolfe
Seminary, located at the Pardes Berman site, is building 36
spacious new classrooms at a total cost of NIS 19 million.
The Gerrer Seminary, also located at Pardes Berman, is
spending NIS 16 million to build 24 classrooms. In addition
to classrooms both facilities contain workshops, pedagogical
centers, libraries and administration rooms.
The Beis Yaakov primary school in the Zichron Meir
neighborhood is replacing temporary structures with 15 new
classrooms (including kindergarten rooms) and a
gymnasium/auditorium at a cost of NIS 6 million. The Central
Beis Yaakov School on Rambam St. is building a new wing with
six classrooms, at a cost of NIS 1.5 million, joining the new
wing opened there three years ago. The General City High
School is building a new NIS 1.5 million wing with five
classrooms in addition to the new wing opened there last
year. Two new kindergarten classrooms are currently under
construction on Rav Meltzer St. at a cost of NIS 1.2
million.
In the coming year, ten classrooms are slated for
construction at the Bais Yaakov school in the Ramat Aharon
neighborhood, to replace ten classrooms currently housed in
temporary facilities. This construction project also promises
to provide a solution for the Shemayo Network's kindergarten
and enrichment center for hard-of-hearing children. Ten new
kindergarten classrooms are slated for construction in the
new residential area at Pardes Berman.
At Talmud Torah Pnei Menachem ten new classrooms will be
built. At the Ateres Rochel Seminary in Shikun Hei eight
classrooms will be built at a cost of NIS 3 million. At the
Beis Malka Seminary eight classroom are in accelerated
planning stages and 16 classrooms are scheduled for
construction at the Vishnitz Seminary at the end of Ezra St.
to replace the substandard facilities in which the classes
are currently being held.
At the 1.5-acre (5.5 dunam) talmud Torah site in the
Pardes Berman area five talmudei Torah are slated for
construction: Shaarei Tzion (Talpiot), Toras Emes, Pri
Chodosh, Lekach Tov and Boston. At the Or Hachaim site Mifal
Hapayis has approved budget allocations for the construction
of three talmudei Torah--Ish Matzliach, Or Mordechai,
and Kinor Dovid-- in coordination with the Ministry of
Education.
In the area of special education 24 classrooms will be built
at Aleh, located in the north of Bnei Brak. Also, a building
to house Yeshivas Orchos Chaim is slated for construction and
another floor will be added to the Darkei Chinuch School.
70,000 Students in 250 Chinuch Atzmai Schools Across the
Country
by Betzalel Kahn
Despite logistical challenges and severe financial shortages
the 5763 school year got a smooth start throughout the
Chinuch Atzmai network.
This year the administration decided to open schools several
days earlier to provide instructors sufficient time to
prepare students for the yomim noraim. Following
numerous hurdles and a four-day delay, 70,000 students
stepped into classrooms in 250 Chinuch Atzmai schools across
the country last Tuesday.
Though enrollment was up several thousand students over last
year, the Chinuch Atzmai system is currently facing budget
cuts after the government decided to reduce allocations for
teaching hours and transportation, in the framework of its
extensive budget cuts. The Chinuch Atzmai network, which has
always known budget cuts, now faces the prospects of having
to close schools in remote locations and classrooms in
disrepair as well as an inability to provide transportation
for students. At the time the budget was passed it was clear
these reductions would make it impossible for many parents to
send their children to Chinuch Atzmai schools.
At Chinuch Atzmai offices lamps burned late into the night as
the first day of school neared. Last-minute hitches such as
housing crunches and logistical problems triggered by the
financial crisis piled up, but b'ezras Hashem through
the efforts of senior administrators, UTJ MKs and activists
across the country, solutions were eventually found and the
school year opened without incident.
The Chinuch Atzmai administration says the budget cuts are
ongoing and extensive efforts are being made to allow Jewish
children to continue their studies in the Chinuch Atzmai
system undisturbed.
