Education Minister Gideon Saar has decided to institute a vacation day for students the day before standardized tests for high school students are given in order to enable them to study for the tests. Saar made the decision after meeting with representatives of student groups last week, who asked for extra time to study before the important tests.
With that, Saar decided not to cancel school on the day after students return from a class trip. Many students do not show up for school on those days because they return from trips very late at night, but students who do not show up will be considered absent, Saar said.