ICC Note: 47 Christian schools in Israel are facing financial crisis due to the unkept promises by the nation’s conservative Ministry of education. The government has continually cut the budgets allocated to these school to a level of 45% in the past 6 years, leading to mass strikes at the beginning of the school year. Now, after an agreement was reached to end the protests, the ministry of education has not help up its side of the deal. The ministry has not honored its commitment to transfer 50 million shekels to the schools.
05/27/2016 Israel (Agenzia Fides): A few days before the end of a difficult school year, which started with a 27-day strike, 47 Christian schools operating in Israel are facing a financial emergency from the potentially devastating effects, because the Ministry of education has not honored their commitment to transfer 50 Million Shekels to the Christian Schools.
The concern for the difficult situation is expressed in an appeal-document released by Christian schools, where they outline key steps and controversial aspects of a story that is creating anxiety for tens of thousands of teachers, school staff, students and families across the Country.
The Office of Christian Schools announced this unprecedented strike after the government had been constantly cutting the budgets allocated to these schools to a level of 45% in the last 6 years.
At the end September, some proposals to break the deadlock had been submitted by the Israeli Ministry of Education Office of Christian schools (see Fides 29/9/2015). The strike ended after the government and the Christian schools reached an agreement. It stated that the Christian schools would receive 50 million shekels by the 31st of March 2016 as compensation for the cuts in previous years. In addition, the agreement stated that a commission would be formed with the sole purpose of discussing recommendations to resolve the crisis.
As of today, more than 50 days past the deadline, the government has not transferred the sum of 50 Million Shekels.
…
