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NEWS
Education Ministry Imposes New Questionnaires on Talmid Torah Principals in Bid to Curtail Pedagogical Independence
By Yechiel Sever
Talmud Torah principals around the country are furious over new Education Ministry demands that could limit their independence.
The Education Ministry recently sent principals of exempt institutions questionnaires and forms that have numerous demands, even more than recognized but unofficial institutions. The Ministry even threatened that if the principals refuse to fill out the forms the Ministry would stop funding them. The whole purpose of the change is to undermine the independence of the talmudei Torah. The forms demand detailed information on the curriculum and ideology of the school.
MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni sent a letter to the Education Minister saying an exempt institution, which receives far less funding than regular institutions, cannot be told to fill out forms and questionnaires on ideological matters even more than is demanded of "recognized but unofficial" institutions. "The exempt institutions were set up and approved following the desire of the teaching staff and parents to receive clear pedagogical independence, and they are even funded less and do not receive approval for special education, do not have additional funding for children in development towns and disadvantaged neighborhoods, etc., etc.
"Until this year everybody knew exempt institutions are budgeted at the lowest funding level, and as their name implies, they are exempt from mandatory subjects because they learn no less than every other student, and more in fact, but at the same time they are exempt from regular pedagogical oversight. Of course I am not speaking of safety certificates, health certificates, etc., but of new forms and documents which afford access to the teachers, curriculum and study programs."
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