The government decided this week to approve a proposed law by
Minister Meshulam Nahari that would legally require local
authorities to provide recognized-but-unofficial educational
institutions (meaning Chinuch Atzmai and Maayan Hachinuch
Hatorani) the same funding that government schools receive.
The government decided that the Education Minister would
draft the bill before it is brought before the government and
the Knesset. The proposal resembles proposals submitted by
MKs Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz and Rabbi Moshe Gafni.
Recently the Justice Ministry instructed local authorities to
stop funding chareidi institutions, claiming that the law
requiring equality for Chinuch Atzmai and Maayan Hachinuch
Hatorani students applies only to state funding, not to local
funding.
After the Justice Ministry issued that directive, Chinuch
Atzmai schools in Jerusalem stopped receiving municipal
services. Following a one-day strike and public pressure the
Justice Ministry decided to continue funding municipal
services for a few more months.
Minister Nahari's proposed amendment to require equal funding
was criticized by the Education Ministry and the Center for
Local Government based on claims that it would strengthen
private education at the expense of government education.
They also argued the law would impose a heavy financial
burden on the local authorities, overlooking the fact
chareidi residents pay municipal taxes just like every other
civilian and are entitled to equal funding and rights.
When the law was presented at the most recent cabinet meeting
ministers were shown comparative figures for the chareidi and
government education systems showing that the proportion of
students enrolled at recognized but unofficial schools has
been increasing steadily from year to year. In 5720 (1960-61)
chareidi students accounted for just 6.6 percent of all
students in Israel, while in 5764 (2004-05) chareidi students
comprised 24.4 percent of all students.
During the meeting the Prime Minister said that the official
elementary school system is funded by the state and the local
authorities, whereas the law permits — but does not
require — the State, through the Education Minister,
to take part in covering the operating costs of recognized
schools in any amount it sees fit. Local authorities follow
the same practice. Although the Education Minister sets a
high, uniform level of state participation in operating costs
at recognized-but-unofficial schools, every local authority
does as it sees fit. Some fund unofficial schools generously,
while others provide only token amounts or no funding at
all.
In response to recent "accusations" that Nahari's proposal
would benefit students at chareidi institutions, Olmert
flatly rejected discriminating against certain children. "The
time has come to put an end to the hypocrisy. I've already
heard all of the arguments and the hypocrisies and when
certain individuals want to, they start private schools. I'm
in favor of total equality for each and every child in the
education system in Israel. Did any of you really rack his
brains and lose sleep when an Arab or chareidi child is
forced to study in prefab classrooms (karavanim)? Both
of these populations have been discriminated against for
years in terms of school construction. Did anyone here cry
out against this or was it easier for us to overlook it?
Perhaps we, the state, did not provide for their needs. I'm
tired of hearing the arguments in favor of discriminating
against Arab communities. I'm in favor of an Arab child
receiving what he deserves just like a Jewish child."
Noting that Nahari's proposal was consistent with both the
Shoshani Committee's recommendations on elementary school
funding and the Dovrat Committee's recommendations, Olmert
asked the ministers to approve the proposal. The proposal was
passed and is currently being prepared by representatives
from various ministries.
MK Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz said that Olmert has always been
capable of eloquence, "but this time he used his eloquence to
persuade the government ministers of the chareidi public's
rights. I very much hope this move is not torpedoed, for we
know the Education Minister objects to this entire move for
ideological reasons, unfortunately. I very much hope Olmert
continues with his move until the law is brought to
completion in order to be `Noeh doresh venoeh
mekayeim.'"
