Chairman Dov Khenin of the Knesset's Direct-Employment lobby called on Education Minister Gid'on Sa'ar, Monday, to get involved and prevent the firing of teachers in the HILA program for at-risk youth. HILA teachers staged a strike over notice from their employers - the Association of Community Centers - that they faced pre-dismissal hearings.
Khenin said,"The Hilaprojectisof tremendoussocialimportance.This is thelast line of defense that the education systemsplacefor teenagerswho have dropped outof the formaleducation system.Instead offiringtheHILAprogramteachers, it shouldbe ensuredthat theybecome partof the education systemandbe absorbedinto it asstate civil servantsoras employees oflocal authorities."