First Special Education High School Opens in Samaria

A new high school for special education, the first of its kind in the Samaria region, opened Wednesday in the community of Revava. The school, intended for boys with behavioral and emotional challenges, will serve students from across the Samaria Regional Council and neighboring authorities. Operated by the Samaria Council and the Tomchin network, the school aims to provide personalized attention with a maximum of eight students per class, allowing for tailored educational plans.

Students will engage in vocational studies including dog training, carpentry, agriculture, and art, alongside culinary classes, acts of kindness, and volunteer work. A unique "Leap Upward" program will combine emotional and sports training, including combat fitness, with a dedicated challenge course for students to work on individual goals. School principal Hadas Bar expressed excitement at the opening, emphasizing the school's foundation in belonging, trust, respect, and belief in each student's potential for progress and success.

The new high school complements the existing "Chen HaShomron" elementary school for special education in Revava. Over the past five years, Samaria has seen the establishment of communication classrooms from first to ninth grade, seventeen special education kindergartens (five for communication), and two other schools. A special education class for local residents has also opened at the Tzfah Yeshiva High School.

The expanded services, which include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and emotional support, are designed to keep families close to home and avoid long trips to central Israel. A dedicated special education department has been established within the Education Administration. This initiative aligns with the Samaria Council's five-year education plan, which allocates NIS 50 million over five years to upgrade educational institutions and enhance support for children with special needs.

Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan stated that the school is "great news for families in Samaria," highlighting years of effort to ensure children needing unique frameworks can find them close to home. He added, "You have tremendous powers," referring to the students.