"Not running the extended-day program at `recognized but
unofficial' kindergartens imperils Torah-based education in
Eretz Hakodesh," Chinuch Atzmai school principals warned UTJ
representatives. "Recognized but unofficial" is the Israeli
government designation of Chinuch Atzmai kindergartens and
nurseries.
Principals in outlying towns contacted the MKs to inform them
that since the beginning of the school year the Extended
School Day Law has been implemented at government and
government-religious schools, extending the day to 3:30 and
providing the children with hot lunches, but not at their
institutions.
Without assistance from the local authorities the "recognized
but unofficial" kindergartens and operators of Torah-based
kindergartens cannot afford the costs of extending the school
day and providing lunch. As a result, in outlying towns many
parents are transferring their children from Torah-based
kindergartens to government-religious and government
kindergartens, which severely undermines Chinuch Atzmai
schools where the kindergartens serve as a foundation.
Parents who turned to local authorities asking why they were
not entitled to take part in the extended-day program were
told that they are welcome to enroll their children at the
government and government-religious schools, where they will
also receive a Jewish education.
School principals are asking MKs to act immediately to pass a
chareidi education law to provide students at chareidi
institutions the same rights mainstream students are entitled
to.
