The High Court of Justice is set to hear arguments for and against education funding cuts that would end 1,500 teacher positions. A plan approved in February 2006 mandated the cuts by the end of the current school year as part of a way to equalize funding to Jewish and Arab schools.
The High Court at that time cancelled the supplemental “national priority” funding to development towns, accusing the ministry of discrimination against the Arab sector, due to the extra budget allocated to Jewish schools.
Teachers at 56 schools in development towns went on strike, and the teachers’ unions added that they would delay the opening of the 2007-2008 school year if the plan goes through.
The Education Ministry has now proposed a plan as a compromise that would gradually implement the funding changes, which were set in February 2006. The ministry claimed this would eliminate the need to fire the teachers, and those who have already received letters of dismissal could return to the classrooms.
The High Court at that time cancelled the supplemental “national priority” funding to development towns, accusing the ministry of discrimination against the Arab sector, due to the extra budget allocated to Jewish schools.
Teachers at 56 schools in development towns went on strike, and the teachers’ unions added that they would delay the opening of the 2007-2008 school year if the plan goes through.
The Education Ministry has now proposed a plan as a compromise that would gradually implement the funding changes, which were set in February 2006. The ministry claimed this would eliminate the need to fire the teachers, and those who have already received letters of dismissal could return to the classrooms.