The education system is preparing for a significant step toward a return to routine amid the war. According to a report this morning (Sunday) on Kan Reshet Bet, a framework has been formulated that will allow daycare centers and private kindergartens in communities defined as “orange" to resume activity immediately after the Passover holiday ends.
The Home Front Command and the Ministry of Education are working on a uniform formula that will enable safe learning in communities with a medium-to-high risk level. Approval is being considered for groups of 15 to 30 children staying inside a standard protected space, accompanied by an adult.
In “orange" communities experiencing heavy rocket fire, activity will be permitted only within protected spaces. In other “orange" communities, learning will be allowed near a protected space, provided that all children can reach it within the required protection time.
The move is intended to provide an initial solution for working parents, although the Home Front Command acknowledges that this is only a partial solution that will not suffice for the entire population.
Starting this coming Thursday, the plan is expected to expand to the public education system (ages 3 and up), but under additional restrictions from the Ministry of Education. Due to a shortage of protected spaces in schools, lower elementary classes will initially return to a format of at least three days per week. 11th- and 12th-grade students will be given priority to allow them to prepare for matriculation exams.
Similar to the COVID-19 period, learning will take place in small, fixed groups in order to reduce crowding and comply with protection capacity limits.