With the opening of the 5772 school year on the horizon, there are still 40 girls who have not been registered in any school. Despite the decision to form an integration committee, the girls remain without a seminary, resulting in Deputy Minister of Education Menachem Eliezer Moses issuing a stern warning to the seminary directors that if the situation is not rectified forthwith, significant sanctions are likely to result.

Speaking on Kol Berama on Monday, the deputy minister elaborated on the matter at hand, adding the burden has been placed on local governments and he remains confident this will be accomplished by the September 1st deadline. He questioned why Shas leader Eli Yishai felt a need to become involved earlier in the day, speaking with Kol Berama as well, intimating Yishai was seeking to push the discrimination issue.

Minister of the Interior Eli Yishai commented the situation will only be resolved in prominent rabbonim become involved and use their influence towards finding a solution for all the girls.

Radio host Avi Mimron explained the problem may surround a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, explaining four heads of seminaries, who happen to be Sephardi, were summoned to the Ministry of Education, apparently to explain why the girls are still without schools. Mimron added that in some cases, girls received letters from a local government body that they have been assigned to a particular seminary but when they contact that very same seminary they are told “we don’t know what you are talking about. You are not registered here”.

Once again, with four days to the 5772 school year, many girls are being caught in the bureaucratic ping pong that resulted in the Emanuel affair, Mimron added. Moses stated that he knows that until such time all girls are in school, sanctions will be implemented – making it clear the ministry was not going to permit girls to be locked out of seminary as was the case in previous years.

KOL BERAMA: Those administrators that have been summoned to the hearing are being accused of discrimination. What is your opinion?

MOSES: It is absurd. I encounter many absurd things in my position and it appears this may be counted among them.

Moses explained that he suggested a “fantastic solution”, one that would result in schools that accept a student in first grade, and continuing in the same school through 12th grade, eliminating the need for interviews for new schools as children complete 8th grade. He stated that in a number of Jerusalem schools this is the system today, eliminating all the stress and the need for students to run around hoping to gain acceptance to new schools after 8th grade.

KOL BERAMA: How does the ministry committee work regarding the integration of girls in new schools? Is there anyone in the loop, someone who understands the girls and their hashkofa, what their previous schools and lifestyles are or are they just being randomly assigned?

MOSES: If a principal tells the committee that there is a significant problem, perhaps a student has a particular issue that results is being totally unsuited for a particular school, that principal must then address the committee to make it aware of the reality. There are professional involved, who will weigh the data and render a decision. Students are not integrated into schools “by force” but the committee tries to find suitable schools for the students.

KOL BERAMA: Yishai woke up it appears realizing school begins in four days and once again there are 40 girls without classrooms.

MOSES: Please, what is he talking about [in an agitated tone]? We have and will continue to find solutions. Last year, 400 students were without schools. At present, there are 40 and we will find solutions for them as well, in cooperation with the administrators of the seminaries.

KOL BERAMA: What about a seminary that does not agree to accept a student assigned by the committee?

MOSES: There is a procedure involving professionals, including rabbonim, and after a case is reviewed a decision is rendered. Moses took advantage of the situation to condemn those who have once again lashed out against chareidim, accusing them of “once again using the system to steal budgetary funds via the new system”. Moses added that their disdain is proof that the system is working and most girls are already assigned to schools and by the opening of the school year, no one will be left at home.

The two went on to discuss the problems impacting the system, the lack of buildings and even the lack of space to place caravan temporary structures, acknowledging there is much work to be done regarding the rapidly-growing chareidi education system in Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)