The High Court of Justice received a petition from Beis Chana Schools against the ‘Ohz L’Tmura’ (‘עוז לתמורה’) plan that dates back to the tenure of Education Minister Gideon Saar. The plan calls for longer afternoon teaching hours which results in a salary increase for teachers. During Saar’s tenure, he received the approval for the plan from Teachers Union leader Ran Erez, who was willing to add teaching hours for appropriate remuneration.

The plan was received with mixed feelings among chareidi schools. For one thing, there is the constant fear that acceptance of the plan might prove as an opening for state involvement in chareidi education in the future. In addition, opponents explain chareidi women must get home and deal with their families and they cannot accept additional afternoon teaching hours.

Those in favor feel the additional hours would be good for all as the girls would learn more while the teachers would earn more, facilitating efforts to support their families. The Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael of Agudas Yisrael convened twice to discuss the matter, and the admorim gave their approval to bring the plan into the chassidish schools. However, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita felt a decision should not be made at present, but to wait and decide later if the new plan should be incorporated in chareidi schools.

The new plan is going to become reality in the 5777 school year. Efforts have been ongoing in which girls’ high schools have tried reaching an acceptable compromise with the Ministry of Education. The Chabad-affiliated Beis Chana education network filed against the plan with the High Court of Justice. They are trying to prevent implementation in their schools.

In the petition, one of the arguments presented to the court was that a chareidi teacher does not view teaching as a chareidi women’s main essence, but rather work dictated by reality of having to earn a living. Therefore, additional teaching hours would not be welcome by chareidi teachers as opposed to a non-chareidi teacher.

The court however rejected the claim, stating the reform must be implemented in all schools, including chareidi ones. This ruling has removed any chance of reaching a quiet understanding between a chareidi school and the Ministry of Education as following the ruling, the law compels the implementation of the reform in all schools, secular, religious and chareidi alike.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)