In a cutting letter to PM Ehud Olmert, State Comptroller
Micha Lindenstrauss, Attorney General Manny Mazuz and
Education Ministry Yuli Tamir, MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni alerted
them to another grave incident of discrimination against the
chareidi education system following a directive not to apply
Phase Alef of the education system reform to chareidi
educational institutions and teacher training programs.
The Education Ministry's Department for Training Instructors
sent out notices this week informing the directors of
chareidi teacher training schools that according to a
directive by Mrs. Ofra Bartov, senior deputy director of
salary agreements at the Finance Ministry, the joint salary
agreement signed at the beginning of January regarding the
implementation of Phase Alef of the education system reform
would not apply to chareidi educational institutions and
teacher training schools.
A directive was issued not to pay the teaching staff at
chareidi teacher training institutions the 4.5 percent
increase, and a separate notice was issued saying that since
the increase had been paid in advance in January salaries,
salaries for February would be docked accordingly.
In response Rabbi Gafni sent an urgent letter about the
seriousness of the decision, noting there is no legal
distinction between teacher training institutions in the
general sector and those in the chareidi sector.
He also wrote that he sees this instance of discrimination as
part of a campaign being waged against the chareidi education
system, noting that many of the teachers affected are the
sole breadwinners of large families. He went on to state that
this decision is a violation of the law and the principle of
equality.
