Parents Protest Closure of First Grade Class at Ashdod Haredi School Days Before School Year

Parents who enrolled their children in first grade at the Shuvu school in Ashdod were shocked to receive notice just days before the school year that the class would not open due to insufficient student numbers. The parents said they had prepared for months, coordinating with staff and purchasing supplies, only to be left scrambling for alternatives at the last minute. One parent told Kikar HaShabbat, “Our children cannot attend another framework. Shuvu is the only suitable place for us. If we had known earlier, we might have recruited more students. Now we are simply thrown out. I have nothing to say to my child who is sitting at home crying.”

The parents sent a letter to Education Minister Yoav Kisch and Ashdod Mayor Dr. Yehiel Lasri expressing strong protest over the decision made days before the school year. They emphasized the unique educational benefits of Shuvu, combining traditional values with academic excellence, and stated that other local options do not meet their needs. They described the late notice as a severe and painful blow to their children.

The Ministry of Education rejected the claim that the closure was solely due to low enrollment, explaining that the school also failed to meet licensing requirements. The ministry said the school had received warnings over the past two years and that the number of registered first graders did not meet the mandatory standards for opening a class. The local authorities and school owners were informed, and the municipality has alternative placements for the students.

Despite this, parents continue to seek a solution that would allow their children to attend the school they chose, arguing that the late announcement leaves them no reasonable time to find alternatives. With the school year imminent, parents are awaiting a resolution to prevent their children from missing out on appropriate education and being left at home.