Teachers Warned as Schools and Kindergartens Remain Closed in Dozens of Communities

Teacher Absences Lead to Widespread School Closures

In a contentious development affecting education in Israel, schools and kindergartens across numerous municipalities, including Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Ra’anana, and Herzliya, have announced they will not open today. Many teachers have called in sick, citing a widespread illness among educators. Amidst this turmoil, parents express outrage, labeling the situation a “scandal.”

Messages circulating among teachers indicate a coordinated absence from work, with statements claiming “educators are ill.” In response, officials from the Ministry of Education emphasize that this organizing effort contravenes both legal standards and court orders, vowing to address the matter decisively.

Parental Outrage and Confusion

Parents are left in uncertainty regarding whether to send their children to school, as various institutions implement closures. Reports of non-opening have been confirmed from a wide array of locations, including Petah Tikva and Modi’in.

Marom Shiff, chairman of the National Parents’ Leadership, stated, “We supported the teachers and kindergartens and fought for them, but continuing the protest now is a pointless move. The finance ministry does not negotiate with any individual teacher but rather with their representative organization. Once the organization signs an agreement, protests will not advance their interests.”

Several parents who spoke to Israeli media have expressed frustration over the inconsistent attendance of teachers. start parent remarked, “This situation is an abdication of responsibility impacting our children. Just yesterday, we had to explain to them that school would resume, and now it is canceled again.”

Teachers’ Discontent and Responses

Despite a recent agreement reached between the teachers’ union and the finance ministry, many educators remain dissatisfied. A teacher named Lilach expressed her discontent, stating, “The agreement signed by Yaifa Ben David does not represent my views. The additional vacation days do not benefit me financially, especially with my partner heading into yet another round of reserve duty.”

The agreement in question aims to mitigate a pay cut of 3.3% for teachers, which has sparked protests. The teachers’ union had been negotiating for alternatives to prevent a direct decrease in salaries. However, many educators argue that the agreed terms still undermine their working conditions, with ongoing calls for a complete annulment of the salary cuts.

Ministry’s Firm Stance

The Ministry of Education has made it clear that any teachers absent without valid medical reasons will not receive their salaries. They characterize this coordinated absence as unlawful and are determined to enforce strict measures.

In a statement, ministry officials said, “Those who do not report to work will not be paid. This conduct contradicts the established agreements with the teachers’ union.”

Continued Uncertainty Ahead

As the day unfolds, it remains unclear how many teachers will ultimately participate in the absence. Reports indicate that over 300 schools may remain closed due to what educators are calling “an illness.”

The parents’ leadership group has vostartd strong opposition to the ongoing protests, stating, “We expect tomorrow to feature full classes and attendance across all educational institutions. It is unacceptable. We supported the teachers’ struggle, but once an agreement is reached, we expect a return to normalcy.”

The situation continues to evolve as both teachers and parents navigate the impact of these labor disputes on students and educational institutions nationwide