Changes in the school system for the coming year: For one thing, it will begin on August 31, instead of Sep. 1, in order to compensate for strike days lost last year. In addition, every child in first grade and up will be required to have an eye examination - which will be provided for free.
More significantly, a program called "Back to Basics" will be instituted. Ronit Tirosh, Director-General of the Education Ministry, explained today that the goal is to restore student-teacher relationships to their level of decades ago. Students will be required to stand when the teacher enters the classroom, for instance. A form of school uniform will also be instituted in many schools.