Quebec provincial authorities have dealt a major blow to the Belz Hasidic education system in Montreal, announcing the sweeping cancellation of operating licenses for three major institutions - a kindergarten, a Talmud Torah, and a small yeshiva serving approximately 600 students.
The move comes deep into preparations for the new school year, leaving hundreds of families facing uncertainty.
The dramatic decision follows a lengthy series of inspections and monitoring efforts involving the institutions’ administration, some of which, according to authorities, have been ongoing since 2007.
In its latest report, Quebec’s Advisory Committee on Private Education stated that although the institutions had been granted repeated extensions since a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2009, they repeatedly failed to meet mandatory regulatory standards.
Among the key deficiencies cited as leading to the drastic measure were a serious shortage of teachers qualified to teach in Quebec’s official languages, English and French; failure to provide the required number of instructional hours in core subjects; the use of unapproved educational materials; and safety concerns involving emergency exits.
Inspectors conducting surprise visits to the institutions reported unusual findings, including classrooms left without active instruction, students present in prayer halls during official school hours, and staff members who did not speak the languages required by law.
The local administration has categorically rejected the allegations and is waging a determined legal battle. The institutions’ attorneys filed an urgent petition with Quebec’s Administrative Tribunal seeking an injunction against the decision, arguing that it was a political and disproportionate measure based on “false factual assumptions and flawed analysis."