The director-general of the Education Ministry agreed to a
demand by Betzedek in a High Court pre-petition against
legislation passed in 5764 that entitles only teachers who
are members of the Teachers' Union or the Organization of
Upper-Grade Teachers to request grants and fee reimbursements
for advanced training courses and study programs. All
teachers at chareidi seminaries were discriminated against as
a direct result of the legislation since they are not members
of those workers' unions.
To encourage teachers to enrich their knowledge the Education
Ministry provides substantial pay increases for advanced
coursework. Therefore, based on established pay agreements,
the Education Ministry rewards teachers with grants for the
number of hours spent in advanced courses and reimburses them
for the program fees according to conditions set by the
director-general of the Education Ministry.
The conditions were altered in preparation for the 5764
school year, making only members of the Teachers' Union or
the Organization of Upper-Grade Teachers eligible to submit
requests for grants and reimbursements. The explanation given
for the change was that only these organizations had signed
pay agreements with the Education Ministry and therefore
teachers who do not belong to them are not entitled to
benefit from the attainments of others.
This decree, which fell on all seminary teachers, delivered a
heavy blow to the chareidi public. Seminary principals asked
Betzedek to intervene and to take steps to reverse the stark
discrimination against the chareidi seminaries by restoring
the previous set of conditions.
Betzedek contacted the director-general of the Education
Ministry with a request to reinstate the grants for teachers
at "recognized, unofficial schools" and even filed a pretrial
petition to the State Prosecutor's Office. In this proceeding
Betzedek revealed its arguments against the regulation and
the discrimination it engenders.
The director-general's office transferred the request to the
department in charge of teacher training, which submitted an
opinion written by its legal advisor. Betzedek continued to
take part in the process, including talks with the legal
department. Following further correspondences in which other
attempts to justify the discriminatory policy were rebuffed,
Betzedek's claim was eventually accepted.
A recommendation to this effect was transferred to the
Education Ministry's Budget Department and the director-
general is currently approving the amended regulations for
the school year 5766 and even added that teachers at official
schools must study toward academic degrees whereas chareidi
seminary teachers can pursue other approved study
programs.
Seminary principals say they are very pleased with the
handling of the affair and are running notices in the press
explaining how teachers can submit the forms to the Education
Ministry.
Betzedek Director Attorney Mordechai Green says he is not
content with the removal of the discriminatory policy, but
despite the challenges involved he intends to seek
retroactive reimbursements for teachers who took courses
during 5765.
